“Oh, yes. I think we’ll have another long talk with him, don’t you? And his mates. This thing clearly stretches a lot further than we thought it did. It’s more than just four blokes and seven girls in Wytherton. It sounds like some sort of exclusive club. We’ll have to try and worm as many names and locations as possible out of Sunny and the others, as well as the girls themselves and the cousins in Dewsbury.”

“Can I sit in on the interviews?”

Annie didn’t say anything.

“Go on, boss. Please! I promise I won’t say anything.”

Annie let the silence drag on a while longer, then she said, “Well, you’d be no bloody use to me if you didn’t chip in now and then, would you? But it’s going to be complicated. We’ll need to work out a strategy. Are you sure you’re up for it?”

14

BANKS WAS STILL TRYING TO GUESS FROM CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT Gervaise’s tone on the telephone what he was likely to be walking into when he went up to her office, as requested. At least she was alone in there, he thought, with some relief after he had knocked and entered. No Adrian Moss, Superintendent Carver or ACC McLaughlin. She even offered him coffee, which he accepted, and they sat down at her circular glass conference table, not the more formal desk.

“Guess what, Alan,” she said. “I’ve had a call from the chief constable.”

“I was wondering when that would happen. I’m surprised it took so long.”

“Apparently, Danny Caxton’s lawyer Bernard Feldman called and complained about police harassment. He’s had two visits in the last two days, it seems, one of them from you.”

“So what do we do, pack up our tents and go home?”

“Hold your horses, oh ye of little faith. If you want the short version, our erstwhile lord and master told him to sod off.”

“He what? The CC told Feldman to sod off?”

“And Caxton. Uh-huh.”

“So they never played golf together.”

“The CC had a message for you, too.”

“What?”

Gervaise leaned forward. “‘Put the bastard away.’ So it’s my brief to ask you if you’re any closer to doing just that. What’s brewing, in other words? Are we going to put the bastard away?”

Banks scratched his temple. “Well, to be honest, I’ve been preoccupied with Annie’s case this past little while—as you might have noticed—we’re very short-staffed.”

“Budget cuts, Alan, budget cuts. Make do and mend.”

“I know, I know. I was lucky to get the promotion when I did, blah-blah-blah. Even so, things have been a bit hectic, as you know.”

“So you’ve made no progress?”

“I’m not saying that. No need to take your coffee back. I’ve had my team of highly trained elves working on it night and day.”