“You won’t lose by it. I can’t say any more than that now. Think about it. If you come forward at this late stage, the first question the defense is going to ask you is whether you’ve been paid for giving evidence. Say yes and your evidence isn’t worth a penny piece. So no talk about money now, eh? You’d have to take my word for it. But I saw you right this morning, didn’t I?”

Reluctantly he nodded. “I don’t know, though,” he muttered, throwing himself petulantly into the armchair. “I just don’t want to get involved.”

“But you are involved, like it or not. And now I know, I intend to get you to help me to trap Alison’s killer. With or without your cooperation,” she added with an edge to her voice.

“How do you mean, with or without my cooperation?” Alex challenged.

Lindsay reached over for her cigarettes and lit one. She’d tried being nice. Now it was time to put the pressure on. And she’d seen Alex under pressure. It shouldn’t be too hard, she thought, already making excuses to herself for behavior she was ashamed of. “Look at it from my point of view for a minute,” she said. “Jackie’s my mate. I don’t want to see her stuck in prison for a crime she didn’t commit. But unlike Jackie, I don’t owe you a damn thing. You’re just a wee rent boy with a fondness for illegal chemicals and blackmail. I like you well enough, Alex, but it wouldn’t honestly matter a toss to me if you were alive or dead. All I have to do is tell my suspects all about you, then sit back and wait to see what happens next.”

Alex paled. “You wouldn’t dare!” he gasped. “You wouldn’t set me up like that!”

“I don’t want to, Alex. But if that’s the only way I’m going to nail Alison Maxwell’s killer, I’ll do it. Like I said, Jackie matters to me. But you don’t. So what’s it to be? You going to help me? Or am I going to have to throw you to the wolves?”

“I’ve got no fucking choice, have I?” he said bitterly. “Okay, okay, you win. I’ll point the finger. But I’m not going to the police, is that clear?”

“As crystal, Alex.” She got to her feet. “I’ll be back here tomorrow to tell you about the arrangements.” Swiftly, before he could stop her, she moved to the table and scooped up his money.

“What the hell are you doing?” he shouted as he leapt out of the armchair and threw himself at her.