'He's skint. It looks as if he was demanding money from Steph shortly before she was killed. I interviewed him in London not long after the murder. I found him unhelpful and hostile.'
She turned to Stormy. 'And is the same man linked in some way to your wife's death?'
'We're not certain,' Stormy had to admit. 'Like Peter said, we're helping each other.'
'Surely it's up to the SIO on the case to pursue these enquiries?'
'If he had, we wouldn't be here.'
She was shaking her head. 'All this is so bizarre that it might just be true. You can sit down, but I'm keeping the cuffs on you.' She waved them towards a couple of wicker armchairs.
'You asked if I have a link with the police, and I do,' she told them. 'I'm in SO10, the Witness Protection Unit. I have the rank of inspector. I 'm guarding Fiona Appleby.'
'She's alive, then?' Diamond said, encouraged.
'In the next room watching television.'
'For her protection?'
'Yes. This is a police house - a safe house.'
'Who are you protecting her from?'
'Dixon-Bligh?' Stormy suggested.
She didn't answer.
'I see the answer in your eyes,' Stormy pressed her. 'You can trust Peter and me, love. Dixon-Bligh is the enemy, isn't he?'
Diamond cringed at the endearment, but to his mystification, it worked. The doughty DO10 inspector gave Stormy a look that was almost a wink.
'And others.'
She was clearly reluctant to say more, though all the aggro had disappeared.
Whatever it was that was working for them, Stormy was going to milk it. 'Listen, love, what's your first name?'
She balked at that.
'Make one up, then.'
'Gina will do.'
'Gina - that's nice. And I'm Dave. He used to call me Stormy, but he's more respectful these days.' He grinned. 'Gina, there's an 'all units' out on Dixon-Bligh. Did you know that? The Met have been looking for him for the past two weeks. If you know this bozo is dangerous, don't you think there might be a tie-in with the two murders?'
She shook her head. 'There's no connection I know of.'
'Maybe we can put you right on that.'
Now Diamond chimed in. 'Hold on, Dave. Gina, you just told us Fiona Appleby is under special protection. What's special about her? I thought she was just someone who was living quietly in a Surrey village because her restaurant failed.'
'That's true. She's an innocent woman caught up in events outside her control.' She stopped speaking, as if reminded she was giving too much away.
Diamond tried gentle persuasion. If it worked for Stormy, why not for him? 'If you could see your way, there are things we'd dearly like to ask her.'
'No chance.'
'She has vital information.'
'Do it through official channels.'
'We're not official, Gina. We're very unofficial, as I just explained. But you want to stop Dixon-Bligh from harming anyone else and so do we. This is crying out for co-operation.'
'In your dreams.'
Diamond simply didn't have his companion's charm.
Stormy applied more of it. 'Gina, we have something to trade.'
The smile returned. 'Oh, yes?'
'Information no one else can give you. Think about it: this pain in the arse Dixon-Bligh was once married to Peter's wife. Peter can tell you all about his old haunts, the places he thinks of as safe, the contacts he has. Isn't that right, Peter?'
'Well—'
'Between us, we can find him, but we need to speak to Fiona.'
She looked tempted, then adamant. 'It can't be done.'
'It can, my dear, if she's only in the next room.'
'I don't have the authority.'
