“She was weirding out on them. The K, I suppose. They couldn’t deal with her no more, she was like a wild animal, so they chucked her out. They didn’t mean to hurt her.”

“Was it because she wouldn’t consent to commit certain sex acts?”

“Come again?”

“She wouldn’t let them do what they wanted to her.”

“She’d let anybody do anything to her when she was off her face like that.”

“How do you know, Sunny? You said you had nothing to do with ketamine, with drugs.”

“You’re twisting my words.”

“How am I twisting your words?”

“What about the other girls?” Annie asked.

“They’re all the same.”

Banks glanced at Annie. The disgust was clear to see on her face. “Well, DI Cabbot,” he said, “I think that’s all the questions for the moment. Why don’t we put Sunny here in a nice comfortable cell while we gather the rest of the statements and see what the teams have stumbled across in their searches?”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean, cell? I’ve told you what I know, haven’t I? I’ve cooperated. We’re done. You’ve got to let me go now.” He looked despairingly at Haroon Malik. “Tell them they can’t do this.” The lawyer remained impassive.

“But we haven’t finished with you yet,” said Annie. “Not by a long chalk.”

13

A SEA FRET SHROUDED XANADU THE SECOND TIME Banks and Winsome paid a visit to Danny Caxton. This time they were ushered by the young servant into a large white room with a white grand piano at its center. The mist nuzzled up against the French doors. Three navy blue leather armchairs were arranged around a huge open fireplace, though there was no fire burning. Caxton wore a white shirt and a yellow herringbone sweater fastened by its sleeves around his neck. They sat down, and there was no offer of refreshments.

“It’s good of you to see us, Mr. Caxton,” Banks said.

“Goodness has nothing to do with it. If I thought I had a choice, do you think you’d have got through the gates?” Caxton sipped an amber-colored drink from a crystal glass. Banks thought he caught a whiff of expensive and old single malt whisky.

“Where’s Mr. Feldman?”

“Don’t worry, he’s within hailing distance. I think I can handle you, but if I need him, I’ll give him a shout.”

“Fine,” said Banks. He gave Winsome the nod, and she took out her notebook. “I just wanted to follow up on the little chat we had last time.”

“It wasn’t a little chat. You were damned insulting. Not as bad as that mate of yours I had over here yesterday. At least I assume he’s a mate. Fellow called Burgess. Nasty piece of work.”