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added, “Don’t you think it’s time Roger paid the price for this one?”
     
    “He’s only young,” he tried again. “I hardly think he was the brains behind this particular escapade.”
     
    Nasir’s words came back to me again, brought me up short. “So you think there’s something more to this as well, do you?” I asked slowly.
     
    O’Bryan looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
     
    I told him briefly what Nasir had said, that he seemed certain there were others behind the recent spate of robberies than the kids who’d apparently been responsible. “Nasir was fairly positive about it,” I confirmed, “and he seemed determined to make sure something was done.”
     
    “Ah, well,” O’Bryan said, “Nasir and I have crossed paths before. His father died when he was about fourteen, and he went off at the deep end. Got himself into a lot of trouble, but I managed to keep him out of prison, and he came round in the end.” He half-smiled. “Had quite a temper on him, as I recall. A few years ago last night’s little adventure would have been much more up Nasir’s street.”
     
    “I must admit, Roger didn’t seem quite the ruthless type,” I said, “otherwise he wouldn’t have helped me drag the old man clear of the fire. He probably saved his life.”
     
    “He did that?” O’Bryan sounded surprised. He shook his head and tut-tutted a few times. “He didn’t tell me.”
     
    “Your biggest problem,” I said, wanting to help in spite of myself, “is that the people round here need a scapegoat for Fariman’s injuries, and right now, Roger is it. I don’t think they’ll be happy to see him get off in any way that’s thought of as lightly.”
     
    “But surely, if he helped rescue this chap, they won’t object?”
     
    “If Roger and his mates hadn’t tried to rob Fariman, he wouldn’t have needed rescuing in the first place,” I said. “Look I’m sorry, Mr O’Bryan, but feelings are running a bit high at the moment, and I don’t know what you think I can do about it.”
     
    “Well,” he said, clearing his throat as though his collar was suddenly too tight for him, “I was hoping that you might be able to persuade the people involved to go easier on him—”
     
    “You’re joking,” I cut in. “Right now I’m not flavour of the month for stopping the vigilantes beating him up, never mind trying to get him off altogether.”
     
    “Well, maybe if it comes to court you could speak up for him. Tell them how he helped save the old man.”
     
    I’d be well out of Kirby Street by the time those particular bureaucratic wheels ground into slo-mo action, but I still didn’t relish the prospect of having to look Shahida in the face across a courtroom as I spoke up for one of the boys who’d tried to murder her husband.
     
    I shook my head. “I don’t think I can help you,” I said, standing up. This interview was over.
     
    O’Bryan rose, also. “Well, if your mind’s made up, it’s made up.” There was a faint snap to his words, which he tried to soften by smiling at me. “I must say I think you’re taking a very brave stand.”
     
    “Brave?”
     
    He cast me a calculating look, the lenses of his glasses blanking out his eyes. “Well, if you’re not for the defence, you’ll be one of the main witnesses for the prosecution, and Roger knows where to find you. So, no doubt, do his mates,” he said carefully. “And the older brother’s known to be a bit of a hard-case, too.” He watched me while he imparted this information, but I didn’t show him what he wanted to see.
     
    “And then there’s the court case itself,” he went on. He pursed his lips, considering. “Never a nice experience, having to stand up in court, is it, Charlie?”
     
    I felt the colour draining away from my face like someone had just pulled the plug out of a bath. It was the first time he’d used my first name, and the sly familiarity of it brought the hairs up on the back of