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‘I don’t kno to thank you for your kindness, Sir Julian,’ he said ‘I feel I already know your son because whenever Beth visits h I find it sohter fell in love with a detective, as my experience of policemen hasn’t been particularly happy’

‘I think you’ll find it was me who fell in love with her,’ said William, as the two men shook hands for the first time and took their seats around the table ‘By the way, she sends her love, and is looking forward to seeing you on Saturday’

‘Thank you,’ said Rainsford ‘I’ her too’

Up until that h his eyes had never left the prisoner as he tried tohe always did whenever he met a potential client for the first tie sheet that he was fifty-three years old, ale boxer He suspected that Rainsford’s hair had turned grey since he’d been in prison He looked fit, which suggested he spent his voluntary hour each afternoon in the gy, and also that he avoided the usual prison diet of sausage, beans and chips He was softly spoken, clearly well educated, and certainly didn’t look like a murderer However, Sir Julian had learnt over the years that murderers corees, others who had left school at fourteen

‘I have, Mr Rainsford—’ began Sir Julian

‘Arthur, please’

‘I have, Mr Rainsford, read the transcript of your trial most carefully, examined the evidence presented by the Crown, considered your testione over your confession word for word However, as this is the first time any of us have ive me if I occasionally interrupt to ask you to clarify a point or ask a question’

‘Of course, Sir Julian I was born in Epsoe he hoped I would follow in his footsteps I did well enough at school to be offered a place to study e Hospital, which pleasedto realize I wasn’t cut out to be a doctor So,up own and transferred to the LSE to study econo lecture

‘After I’d graduated, I joined Barclays Bank as a trainee, but once again I quickly realized I wasn’t by nature a corporate anis I returned to the LSE and took a business degree, which was how I finally discovered my natural vocation With too many letters after my name and too little income, I joined a merchant bank in the City’

‘Which one?’ asked Sir Julian

‘Kleinwort Benson I began life in their s the bank’s custoreater pleasure than to see theer businesses

‘I had two close friends at the time, Hamish Galbraith, an old school chum, and Gary Kirkland, who I’d er after he left school He had a natural flair with people, and the gift of getting the best out of thehter than both of us, but spentFrankly I was surprised he got a degree, let alone came out near the top of his year He beca spreadsheets more than novels

‘One Friday night e’d all had a little too ested we should set up our own business I spent the rest of the weekend wondering if he could be right After all, I’d spent the past three years advising others on how to expand their companies, so perhaps I was ready to set up one myself I prepared the same detailed proposal I would have expected from any prospective client, with myself as the

saleser, and Gary as the accountant I then presented hts to my would-be partners’

‘With what result?’ asked Sir Julian