Archer, Jeffrey - Hidden in Plain Sight

‘Don’t tell anyone what you’re up to, would be my first piece of advice, because if it were to leak out, his rivals might try to scupper the whole idea.’

‘Tim’s such a decent and kind man, I can’t believe he has any rivals.’

‘Anyone who’s hoping to be knighted has rivals, not least those who think they’re more deserving of an honour than him. But on a more practical level, you’ll need a sponsor, preferably someone whose reputation is like Caesar’s wife, beyond reproach. Who is the gallery’s chairman?’

‘Lord Kilholme.’

‘Fine fellow,’ said Sir Julian. ‘A former cabinet minister whose reputation has grown since leaving office, and that’s a rare thing.’ He paused while his wife handed them both a coffee. ‘However, Kilholme will still need several letters of support from leading figures in the art world, and not all from the same political party. But Kilholme is an old pro, so he’ll know exactly how to go about it.’

‘And surely he’ll also know who sits on the honours committee?’ said Beth.

‘No one knows who sits on the committee. If people did, imagine the pressure they’d come under. It’s a more closely guarded secret than the contents of the next budget. They’re simply referred to as the great and the good.’

‘How interesting,’ said Beth. ‘Is that how you got your knighthood?’

‘Certainly not, I was simply born in the right cot. I succeeded my father, who succeeded his father, who switched parties when Lloyd George became prime minister.’

Beth laughed. ‘Does that mean that one day William will be Sir William?’

‘And you will be Lady Warwick, which—’

‘What are you two whispering about?’ asked William, as he walked across to join them.

‘The arrangements for our wedding,’ said Beth.

‘You’d make a rather good member of the honours committee,’ whispered Sir Julian.

‘Care for a slice of Black Forest gateau, superintendent?’ asked Commander Hawksby.

‘Don’t mind if I do,’ said Lamont.

‘How about you, DC Roycroft?’

‘Always been one of my favourites,’ said Jackie, as the commander cut her a thick wedge.

‘Have to make sure we destroy all the evidence,’ said the Hawk, after handing Paul a second slice, ‘because I hear Tulip is considering suing the Met for wrongful arrest, using unnecessary force while dealing with a law-abiding citizen, and racial prejudice.’

‘Pity it wasn’t me who arrested him,’ said Paul. ‘Then at least he would have had to drop one of the charges.’

‘He’s also demanding that the officer concerned be suspended while an inquiry into police brutality takes place.’

‘All the more reason to destroy the evidence,’ said Lamont, scraping up the last few crumbs.

‘Sorry we couldn’t offer you a slice, DS Warwick,’ said the Hawk, ‘but then we would have to add accepting a bribe to the long list of charges against you.’

Jackie tried not to smirk.

‘But—’ began William.

‘Fortunately for you,’ said the commander, ‘the drugs in question had been shoplifted from a local Tesco store, but as the evidence has now been destroyed, we were left with no choice but to caution him, and release the suspect with a warning.’

‘But—’ repeated William.

‘Hardly the six- to eight-year sentence you’d been hoping for, DS Warwick.’

‘And what’s more,’ said Jackie, ‘the address Tulip gave us, surprise, surprise, doesn’t exist.’

‘But the pub does,’ said William.

‘What pub?’ demanded the Hawk, sounding serious for the first time.

‘The Three Feathers in Battersea. That’s where he told the cabbie to take him.’

All four officers were suddenly alert.

‘Perhaps I should stake it out,’ said William. ‘Try to find out who his fellow dealers are?’

‘That’s the last thing you’re going to do,’ said Hawksby. ‘They’d spot a choirboy like you a mile off. No, this is a job for one of our more experienced undercover officers. You just make sure you don’t go anywhere near the place.’

‘Do I know the officer you have in mind?’ asked William.

‘Even his own mother doesn’t know him,’ said the Hawk.

5

‘DETECTIVE SERGEANT WARWICK,’ he said, after picking up the phone on his desk.

‘I now know the name of the person you’re looking for,’ said a voice he immediately recognized. ‘But it’s going to cost you a ton for starters.’

‘A hundred pounds?’ said William. ‘For that, I’d expect him to be sitting at my desk signing a confession.’

‘Not this time,’ said Adrian. ‘And for another hundred, I’ll tell you where you can find him every Friday afternoon at five o’clock.’

‘Where shall we meet?’ said William, as another phone began to ring.

‘The lower room of the Salt Tower in the Tower of London. Next Wednesday at eleven.’

‘You’re needed on this line,’ shouted Jackie, cupping a hand over the receiver. ‘Sharpish!’

‘And I’ll expect to see the cash before I even consider revealing his name, or where you’ll find him on a Friday afternoon at five.’

‘I don’t think she’ll hold on much longer,’ said Jackie.

‘Otherwise all you’ll be seeing is the Crown Jewels, and that’ll cost you fifty pence.’ The line went dead. William slammed down the receiver, shot across the room and grabbed the phone from Jackie’s outstretched hand.

‘Detective Sergeant Warwick,’ he repeated.

‘Detective Sergeant?’ said a voice that sounded as if she didn’t expect to be kept waiting.

‘Christina?’ said William, trying not to sound surprised.

‘Miles will be hosting a dinner party for nine close friends at Limpton Hall on May the seventeenth. Eight o’clock.’

‘Do you know the names of any of these close friends ?’ asked William, as he opened his pocket book.

Another line went dead.

‘You hang about for ages waiting for a bus to appear,’ said William, ‘and then two turn up at the same time.’

‘I’m all ears,’ said Lamont.

‘My contact claims he knows the name of the Viper, and where he goes at five o’clock every Friday afternoon, but he expects a couple of hundred for the information.’

‘Worth every penny,’ said Lamont to William’s surprise, before adding, ‘if, one, he’s telling the truth, and two, his information turns out to be kosher.’

‘Do you want to risk it, guv’nor?’

‘It’s your call, DS Warwick. But if you decide to go ahead, I’ll have to get clearance from the commander before I can release that kind of money. And he’ll want to be sure you don’t hand over a penny before your snout’s given you the information. Never forget, your old school chum isn’t your friend, and he never will be. But that doesn’t mean you don’t stick to your side of the bargain. You’ll have to, if you’re going to secure his trust. And the other call?’

‘Christina Faulkner. She says her husband’s planning a dinner party for nine guests at Limpton Hall on May the seventeenth.’

‘I’d like to be a fly on the wall for that little soirée,’ said Lamont. ‘But even you won’t be able to pull that off.’

‘No, but we could be somewhere nearby to check out the guest list.’

‘What are you up to today, dare I ask?’ said Beth as William climbed out of bed.

‘I’m visiting the Tower of London.’

‘Are you expecting someone to steal the Crown Jewels?’

‘No, but I am hoping to come away with a couple of gems,’ he replied, before disappearing into the bathroom. He turned on the hot water as he prepared to shave. He planned to be at the Tower by ten thirty, so he would be waiting for his old school chum long before he appeared. But first he would have to call in at the Yard and collect the two hundred pounds Hawksby had reluctantly authorized.