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‘I’ll keep the information to the bare minimum and report back to you.’

William picked up the phone as the door closed, dialled a number and said, ‘Sorry about that, sir, but I think we may have a breakthrough in the Faulkner case.’

•••

Miles was driven into the visitors’ car park long before the appointed hour. He strolled across to the waiting room and filled in yet another form before he was handed a disc with the number three on it. He then exchanged a five-pound note for five canteen vouchers, took a seat and waited and waited. He finally gave up and began to read thePrison News.

‘Numbers one to five,’ said a prison officer just before three o’clock struck. Miles rose and, along with seven other visitors and one protesting baby, followed the officer out of the waiting room, across a yard and into the reception area. He handedover his mobile phone, wallet and leather belt, not needing to be told he could pick them back up after the visit.

The same officer led the eight visitors out of the reception area, across the barren weed-infested yard surrounded by a high wall that Miles had stared at for three years.

Miles shivered when he stepped back into the prison and was escorted down a long brick corridor to another waiting area. He joined a little queue at the mobile canteen, handed over his five coupons and in return received a cup of coffee, a ham sandwich, two bars of KitKat and a packet of cigarettes. He wasn’t offered any change.

A buzzer sounded. Two officers appeared and led the first eight visitors into a large open room full of circular tables spread well apart from each other. There was a red chair on one side of each table for the prisoner and two blue chairs on the other for his visitors.

Miles looked around the room to see Tulip giving him a wave. He weaved his way through the tables and, when he reached the prisoner, placed all his purchases on his side of the table.

‘Don’t look up,’ said Tulip as Miles took the seat opposite him. ‘I’ve already spotted two lip readers on the balcony, and I assume there have to be more.’

‘Then I’ll act as the ventriloquist,’ said Miles, ‘and you can be my dummy. I’ll make it clear what I want, while you talk gibberish.’

Tulip nodded. ‘I read all about theAngelshutting herself in the toilet in theSun,’ he said. ‘You must have enjoyed that. So what’s next?’

‘I need a removal man and quickly,’ said Miles, his head bowed, his lips barely moving.

‘I hope you like theWater Liliesthat Billy Mumford painted for you,’ said Tulip, after taking a sip of coffee.

‘What’s the going rate?’

‘What do you expect him to paint next, the Virgin Mary?’

‘No. A prostitute from Putney.’

‘I think he’s now charging around twenty thousand, possibly more. But he’ll need a photo of the model.’

‘Tell him to visit me at my office overlooking the river, when I’ll hand over a photo and the cash.’

‘I’ll let him know,’ said Tulip as he grabbed the ham sandwich and took a bite, before asking, ‘When?’

‘Sunday, three o’clock,’ said Miles, his lips not moving. ‘It’s always the busiest time of day. But warn him I’m being followed, so only join me if I put my hands in my pockets.’

‘I’ll let him know,’ said Tulip, before taking another bite of his sandwich.

‘What are your chances of parole?’ asked Miles, speaking normally now that he had completed his business.

‘I’ve had my first interview,’ said Tulip. ‘Tried to convince them I was a reformed character and had turned over a new leaf.’

‘When will you find out if they believe you?’

‘Not for several months,’ said Tulip. ‘Nothing, as you know, moves quickly in prison.’

‘Are you still working in the library?’

‘Yep, it’s still the easiest job in this place – and allows me to keep in touch with everything that’s going on in the outside world.’

A buzzer sounded to warn visitors they only had another five minutes.

Miles looked around to see lovers kissing their partners and fathers hugging children. At the next table, a woman cradling a baby in her arms couldn’t stop crying.