Chapter 24

“So, was it an after-hours public house fight, something like that?” he probed. With surprising delicacy.

“I don’t think so. It really did look as if an animal had ripped his throat out. It’s probably just a coincidence.” He could have hit on the wrong person—for sex or blackmail or whatever—and been followed and been attacked and mauled. But it seemed unlikely. Archie knew his way around and his judgement had been honed.

They sat in pondering silence for a moment, before McGovern spoke again. “The wild animal attack is a good story. But do you think there’s a deeper story here we can follow up?”

Lew drew a breath. This was make or break.

“I think there’s a story. But because of the victim’s circle of acquaintance it’s possible some of it won’t be suitable for publication one way or another. And you know I’m not prepared to chase scandal for the sake of it. If that’s what you want, then you need to look for someone else.”