“Not that we know of. Do you think your husband could have been gay, or bi?”

“Absolutely not. I never believed it. I realize that’s what most wives would say, but it’s true. I’m not saying that Tony was some tough sort of macho man—he was artsy, for god’s sake, he dressed a bit differently, he liked ballet and opera and he wouldn’t harm a fly—but that doesn’t make a person gay. And in all our time together I never once got the remotest inkling that Tony had any interest, other than friendship, in his own sex. And I’ve known couples who were in that position. Gay men married to women for years. I think my gay-dar, or whatever you call it, has been consistent.”

“Why did you think he was in that public toilet, then?”

“I could only assume he was put there to make it seem that way, or taken there and killed. I don’t know. I’m just sure that Caxton’s men did it. I don’t imagine for a moment he would have done it himself, but he probably knew people who would.”

How right you are, Banks thought. “And you mentioned this suspicion to Detective Chief Superintendent McCullen?”

“Yes.”

They were approaching Ursula’s cottage over the rise. Banks could see his Porsche gleaming in the sunlight. “I don’t think there’s anything else,” he said, “but if you remember any more details, however insignificant they might seem, let me know. And I apologize again for opening up old wounds. These cold cases have a tendency to do that.”

“It’s all right,” said Ursula. “I just hope you manage to find enough evidence to convict Caxton this time around. Will the judge put such an old man away for life?”

“I’ve no idea,” said Banks. “I’ve known cases where a judge has determined the accused too old and infirm to serve his sentence. But this is a high-profile case—Savile and Cyril Smith were dead by the time the world found out about them, but Rolf Harris is an old man, and they sent him to prison. The way things are going, there will be a wealth of evidence against Caxton. It’ll be hard not to be seen to do something.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“Yes,” said Banks.

“And?”

“And he’s a pathetic old man. But it’s as you said. Repulsion at first sight. Perhaps the only difference between then and now is that the mask has slipped.”