‘You’re a friend of Ben’s?’ She peered up at him in bewilderment. ‘Come to think of it, I have seen you somewhere before,’ and for some unaccountable reason she shivered.

‘You couldn’t have,’ Nick told her. ‘I’m new in town. Ben and I did some bird together at Parkhurst. I was released last October.’

‘You’ve just missed him,’ she said. ‘He was here a little while ago.’

‘I was supposed to meet him outside Wandsworth yesterday, but something came up. I hear there was trouble.’

‘They were waiting for him in the fog,’ she said, staring into her empty glass.

Nick filled it again quickly. ‘Who was, Wilma?’

‘Oh, some rat or other that Sammy knew on the inside.’ She started to laugh and drank some more of the gin. ‘My God, he couldn’t have told them much about Ben.’

‘He’s a hard man all right.’

‘He can take ’em all.’ She stared dreamily into space. ‘But when it comes to women.’ She shook her head drunkenly, slow tears oozing down her cheeks and reached for her handbag. ‘See this?’ She waved the fifty pounds in Nick’s face. ‘That’s Ben for you. I’m going home, do you understand? I’m going home.’

‘What about Sammy?’

She laughed contemptuously. ‘Ben gave him the hiding of his life, then tossed him out on his ear.’

‘Good for Ben.’ Nick walked to the fireplace and kept his back to her.

‘One thing I don’t understand. Why would Sammy want to have Ben worked over when he came out of Wandsworth yesterday? It doesn’t make any kind of sense.’

‘You don’t think he was working for himself, do you?’ She stopped abruptly, as she caught sight of his face in the mirror over the fireplace.

‘Go on, Wilma,’ Nick said turning. ‘Who was he working for?’

A sudden realization came to her that something was wrong and she shook her head vigorously and got to her feet.

‘I don’t know, I don’t remember. I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve a train to catch.’

She reached for her case, but Nick beat her to it. ‘Was it Fred Manton?’

She stared up at him, sobering rapidly, a dawning comprehension in her eyes. ‘You aren’t any friend of Ben’s.’

She came closer, peering up into his face and Nick nodded slowly. ‘Right every time, Wilma. I’m the law.’

There was real horror in her eyes now and she sobered completely, grabbing for the case and trying to push past him. ‘I’ve done nothing wrong. You can’t hold me here. I’ve got a train to catch.’

Nick shoved her back with all his force. ‘Where did Ben go, Wilma? Tell me that and I’ll run you to the station myself.’