“What a dreadful idea! Well, see you at The Right Sort in the morning. Oh, and I have an escort for the reception.”

“Well done. Who?”

“I’ll surprise you.”

“I’m intrigued,” said Iris. She paused. “How much of the conversation with Ronnie did you hear?”

“Do you mean did I hear when he asked if you were going to find me a husband?”

“Yes. Out of the mouths of babes—”

“Iris, I’m a professional husband-finder. When the time comes, I’ll do it myself. And here is Percival. Goodbye, dear.”

“Goodbye.”

Iris’s telephone was ringing as she entered her flat. She dashed to answer it before the connection was lost.

“Hello?”

“’Allo, Sparks,” said Archie.

“Hello, Archie.”

“So when were you gonna tell me about the five thousand pounds?”

CHAPTER 12

“I gather he’s talking,” said Iris.

“’E’s talking,” said Archie. “’E’s not saying much. Most of it is about you, so I’m applying grains of salt. But the five thousand was no porker, was it?”

“The five thousand is real, and it’s alive and well.”

“So you trust me enough to commit a major felony on your behalf, but not enough to tell me you were recently loaded.”

“Oh, Archie.” Iris sighed. “I trust you. I didn’t tell you about the money for the same reason you didn’t tell me where you were stashing the gent. I wanted to protect you and the lads.”

“Protect me?” Archie exclaimed indignantly. “Just ’oo are you to be protecting me? I’m Archie Spelling! I don’t need protecting.”

“This situation comes from Very High Up,” said Iris. “If it goes wrong, the powers that be will come down like a ton of bricks. I didn’t want them to make a public example of you. I’m sorry, Archie, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Oh gosh, listen to us. Our first lovers’ quarrel, and we aren’t even lovers yet.”

“I’m liking the ‘yet’ part. So where does the money go when all is said and done?”

“Back to its originator. Sorry again, Archie. Neither of us is getting rich off this one.”

“’Ow do you resist the temptation? You can practically ’ear it breathing when there’s that much of it lying about.”

“By letting the Incorruptible One hold it. I don’t entirely trust myself in this matter, either.”

“Item five,” muttered Archie.

“What?”

“Nothing. So this bloke talked like ’e knew you before.”

“Clever boy, clever ploy. What did he say?”

“That you worked for British Intelligence. Special Operations. No surprise to me there.”

“Old news, but very interesting that he claims to know about it,” said Iris. “Anything else?”

“Suggested that you ’ad something to do with the feller who took a blade to the gut at the Poplar Dock yesterday.”

“Did he say I was the one holding the other end?”

“Implied as much. Thing is, ’ad you done so, I wouldn’t’ve found myself in a state of shock on that count, either.”

“Sorry to disappoint you. I came in after the bloody deed was done.”