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Laarettes on the table, extracted one and handed it to the prisoner He even lit it for him The first bribe had been offered and accepted

‘My name is Detective Chief Inspector Lamont,’ he said as if they’d never ue, Detective Constable Warwick’ Leigh didn’t even glance at William ‘We’d like to ask you a few questions’

Leigh didn’t respond, other than to exhale a large cloud of grey smoke

‘We are investigating the theft of a Reton, soo We have recently come across a copy which we have reason to believe was painted by you’

Leigh took another drag on his cigarette, but said nothing

‘Did you paint that picture?’ asked Lamont

Leigh still made no attempt to respond, almost as if he hadn’t heard the question

‘If you cooperate with us,’ said La to make a favourable recommendation to the Parole Board when you come up in front of them in a couple of months’ time’

Still nothing Williah’s sullen eyes, just how far Miles Faulkner’s tentacles stretched

‘On the other hand, if you don’t cooperate, we can also report that to the Board The choice is yours’

Even this didn’t appear to h A few seconds later the door opened and a trusty prisoner entered carrying a tray of coffee and biscuits, which he placed on the table before leaving quickly Leigh grabbed a an to stir Lamont sat back in his chair

‘Mr Leigh,’ said William, aware that no prison officer would have addressed hi the past four years, ‘as it’s clear that you have no intention of answering any of our questions, I’d just like to say soar to his coffee ‘I’roupie, call it what you will, but h turned to look at Williae piece of ash fell off the end of his cigarette and onto the table ‘Your Verh I wasn’t surprised it didn’t fool the leading Dutch scholars, particularly Mr Ernst van de Wetering But the copy of The Syndics is unquestionably a work of genius It’s currently in our office at Scotland Yard, and I’m reluctant to return it to Miles Faulkner, who claims it’s his It’s just a pity you weren’t born in Ao, when you could have been a pupil of the master, even a master yourself If I had a fraction of your talent, I wouldn’t have bothered to join the police force’

Leigh continued to stare at Willia

‘May I ask you a question that has nothing to do with our inquiry?’

Leigh nodded