“Mr. Burgess is coordinating the investigation through the NCA,” Banks said. “As I’m sure he told you, we’re exploring many avenues.”

“Fishing expedition is more like it. Seeing what muck you can rake up from publicity-hungry bitches who think they can sell their stories to the News of the World for a few thousand quid.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Caxton, but the News of the World no longer exists.”

“Well, let’s be thankful for small mercies. Still, it’s no matter. One goes, another one springs up to take its place. Like weeds. Like coppers. What do you want now?”

“Some new information’s come up.”

Caxton cocked his head to one side. “New information? Like what?”

“Tony Monaghan.”

“Who? Are you trying to insinuate that I assaulted men as well as women?”

“Come off it, Mr. Caxton. Don’t play the innocent with me. You should remember Tony Monaghan. He worked for you from 1966 to 1967 until he was found stabbed to death in a public convenience in Leeds.”

“Ah, that Tony Monaghan. Well, yes, I do vaguely remember him, I suppose mostly because of the terrible thing that happened to him.” He put his index finger to his cheek. “As I remember he was a homosexual, wasn’t he? Found dead in a place known to be frequented by that sort of character.”

“How did you know that?”

“Oh, come, come, you don’t think you can trip me up like that, do you? It was in the papers at the time.”

“Did the police talk to you?”

“There may have been a brief conversation. After all, Monaghan worked for me on contract. I knew nothing that could help them.”

“Of course not. But then you knew the chief constable well, didn’t you?”

“Ted Crammond and I were friends, yes.”

“So you remember him all right?”

“I remember my friends. I did a bit of fund-raising for the local police. You’ll find it all on record.”

“Oh, we have,” said Banks. “But that was about all we found on record. Do you know that the investigation into Mr. Monaghan’s murder was abandoned just over two weeks after his death?”

“I didn’t keep track of it. You can’t blame me for the police’s inability to catch the killer.”

“Oh, but I think we can. I don’t think there was much of an attempt made. I think it would have led police far too close to you, so you had a word in your friend’s ear.”

Caxton narrowed his eyes. “Mr. Banks, that sounds to me very close to a slanderous attack on my character.”

“Then call in Mr. Feldman. Did you have any idea that Mr. Monaghan was homosexual?”

“None at all. I never asked him, and he never said. I must say there were no obvious signs in the way he dressed or talked or walked.”