‘A protection racket?’ Sarah was looking out of the window across the Thames towards Lambeth Palace. She turned to face Gary and leaned back on the sill.

‘Sounds like it.’

‘But could he raise the sort of money we’re talking about with a protection racket?’

‘Depends on how many clients he has.’

‘Well, it explains why the money’s in cash.’

Gary drummed his fingers on the desk, it often helped the thought process. ‘It just seems a bit clumsy to me, that’s all. I mean, I’d expected something a bit more…’

‘Clever?’ suggested Sarah.

Gary nodded.

‘You’ve been reading too many thrillers. Crime is often clumsy. You know that. The obvious motive is usually the genuine one.’

‘Yes. But I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed.’ He got up and walked across to the window to join her, looking out over the skyline. Rain was beginning to fall. The city was disappearing from view. ‘Still, I expect you’re right. Anyway, we need to get cracking before other parties start interfering.’

‘Other parties?’ Sarah look quizzical.

‘Yes. You’re not going to believe this, but Tiger–my mate who came over the other night in the Red Dragon–was the one who woke me up to it. Told me he thought there was something up.’

‘How did he know?’

‘Oh, his wife runs a bookshop. She had an approach. So did the old biddy who runs the chocolate shop next door. She had a brick through her window the day after she declined to join “the club”.’

‘And that’s why you think there’s something in it?’

‘Well, it’s a lead if nothing else. Worth following up. Not least because the guy who had been asking them both for money was in the Red Dragon the night we were there. Not that we knew who we were looking for. And we’ve nothing else to go on.’

‘No.’ Sarah sat down at her desk. ‘And we don’t know what he looks like, do we?’

‘No.’

‘But your friend Tiger does.’

‘Yes.’

‘Couldn’t we take him through a few photo fits, or at the very least get a detailed description of the guy so that we’ve some idea what we’re looking for?’

‘We could. If he had any idea what I did for a living.’

‘Ah. I see. Ask him anything and you blow your cover?’

‘Pretty much.’

‘So what does he think you do?’ asked Sarah.

‘He thinks I’m a civil servant.’

‘Which, of course, you are.’

‘Yes. Just not the sort of civil servant he thinks I am.’

Sarah looked thoughtful.

‘What is it?’ he asked.

‘I was just wondering if there was any way we could get the information we need out of Tiger without him knowing what you really do. Get one of our other guys to go and ask him some questions.’