“Oh, I try my best,” said Banks. “I’ve managed to get a few laughs out of you, at any rate. But I should think you’ve made far more people cry.”

“Laughs at the ridiculous things you’ve been accusing me of. I’ll grant you that.”

“Did you murder Tony Monaghan?”

“What? First I’m a rapist, now I’m a murderer. Should I be shouting for Benny?”

“I don’t mean personally, with your own hands. You wouldn’t do that. I doubt you’d have the guts. But did you order it done?”

“Why would I do something like that? This is beyond a joke, even to me. And I’ve got a sense of humor.”

Banks leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know why it should seem so ridiculous,” he said. “A man in your employ is murdered just two months after you raped a fourteen-year-old girl in a Blackpool hotel. And he was with you there. He raped her after you did. I can see all sorts of possibilities in that little scenario. Blackmail, for example? Or a sudden attack of conscience, no money involved, but a desperate need to get things off his chest? Can’t you see the possibilities, DS Jackman?”

Winsome looked Caxton in the eye. “I certainly can, guv. Get that sort of thing all the time.”

“Do you know who the two men who carried his body across the park to the toilets were?” Banks asked.

“Now you’ve lost me.”

“Two men were seen carrying another between them. They looked like boxers or wrestlers, maybe bouncers. No necks. Who were they? You might as well tell us. We’ll find out, you know, then we’ll prove a connection.”

“Now I really don’t know what you’re talking about.” Caxton looked from one to the other, and there was nothing pleasant about his fixed smile. The Man with the Big Smile was not happy, and if Banks wasn’t mistaken, he was even a trifle worried. He put his hands on the arms of the chair and pushed himself to his feet. In that gesture, it was possible to see him as an old man, struggling with stiffening joints and frail bones. “Well, interesting as all this has been,” Caxton said, slightly out of breath, “I have only two words to say to you. Prove it. And now, if you don’t mind, it’s time for my nap. If there’s anything else, I’ll call Mr. Feldman in and you can talk to him about it.”

Banks and Winsome stood. “No, that’ll be fine,” said Banks. “We’re finished anyway.”

“I very much think you are. I’d like to say I’m sorry you had such a wasted journey, but I can’t really mouth the words with any degree of honesty.”