‘What do you mean, “everything that happened”? When did you speak to Tony?’ Pam scowled.
Jane took a deep breath. ‘Last night at the police station after he was arrested.’
Pam sat up. ‘Arrested? Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Tony asked me not to tell you because he wanted to.’
‘Well, he clearly didn’t!’ Pam said, becoming agitated.
‘I think he was going to, but you walked out with Nathan before he could.’
‘Oh, so it’s my fault again. I thought I could confide in you, Jane, but all the time you’re sneaking behind my back and lying to me.’
‘You need to calm down and listen to me or you’ll wake Nathan,’ Jane said sternly.
Pam folded her arms. ‘Go on, then.’
‘Tony was arrested after what I believe to be a false allegation of indecent assault. He called me at home and I went to the station to find out what was happening.’
‘He was arrested for indecent assault and you didn’t tell me?’
‘I’m sorry, but it wasn’t up to me and—’
‘You were just worried about Tony’s arrest affecting your bloody job, weren’t you?’
Jane had had enough of being the scapegoat.
‘I put my job on the line for Tony and I’d do the same for you if ever you were arrested. I was just trying to help. You can let me explain everything or go to bed — the choice is yours.’
‘I’m all ears,’ she replied flippantly.
Jane went over everything, from start to finish, about her involvement in Tony’s arrest and why she went to the station. She was blunt and to the point, and even told Pam about the conversation they’d had in the cell about Tony’s emotional state due to Pam’s erratic behavior.
‘Tony’s been a fool, and he knows it. But put yourself in his shoes for one minute and think how you’d feel if someone made a false allegation like that against you.’
Pam started to well up. ‘I understand why he called you and not me... and he’s right about the way I’ve been treating him.’
‘I hated myself for not telling you, Pam, but you and Tony need to sit down and talk, and seek some medical advice about your condition.’
‘Do you think Tony will end up in court over the assault allegation?’
‘I’m pretty certain the DS dealing with the case believes Tony and Noel’s version of events. He’s going to see the woman again and re-interview her. Hopefully when confronted with the truth she’ll withdraw her allegation. If not, he could be charged and face trial.’
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jane let Pam sleep in her bed with Nathan, while she slept on the couch. She got to bed at 2 a.m. and hardly slept before the alarm went off at 6 a.m. On waking she was on autopilot as she showered then dressed for work. Her vision was slightly blurred, and when she looked at her eyes in the bathroom mirror, they were baggy and slightly bloodshot. She used some moisturizer and did some facial stretches, but it didn’t make much difference, so she put on a bit more make-up than usual.
Before leaving she popped in to see Pam.
‘You OK?’
‘Yes, I’m fine.’
‘I’m off to work now, so make yourself at home. There’s bacon and eggs in the fridge and cereal in the cupboard.’ She leaned forward and kissed Nathan, and then Pam’s cheek. ‘You can invite Tony over here if you want to have a heart-to-heart.’
‘Thanks, but I’ll go home. It would be better under our own roof... for Nathan as well.’
‘Forgiveness is never easy, but I know you’ll work things out. Tony’s a good man and he loves you both dearly.’
‘I know, and I love him.’
‘Let me know how it goes.’
Jane started to leave the room.
‘I love you as well, Jane. I know I can be a silly cow at times, but I really appreciate what you’ve done for Tony and the advice you’ve given us.’
‘That’s what sisters do, Pam — they help each other through thick and thin.’
It was a fresh, sunny spring morning as Jane parked her car in a back street near Brick Lane, famous for its array of Jewish, Bangladeshi and Indian restaurants and its Sunday flea market. As she crossed Bethnal Green Road she saw the Colonel walking towards her, and couldn’t help letting out a big yawn.
‘You look like you’ve been up all night,’ he remarked.
‘I have,’ she replied, yawning again.
‘Then a nice hot coffee and a salt beef bagel is what you need to wake you up.’
‘I’ve got to be back at Rigg for nine to meet Teflon and take Fiona Simpson up to the Yard.’
‘It’s only half seven — we’ve got plenty of time.’
‘All right then... I haven’t had a salt beef bagel in ages, and a black coffee wouldn’t go amiss.’
As they walked down Brick Lane, some vendors were still setting up their stalls with second-hand goods and putting price tags on them. As they approached the busy Jewish cafe, the smell of salt beef filled the air. They found a free table in the corner.
‘My treat,’ he said, and went to the counter.
Jane saw him get a brown envelope out of his pocket and tear it open. He removed two ten-pound notes, handed one to the waitress, and put the other in his wallet. As he did so, she remembered Murphy saying he’d authorized twenty pounds out of the informants’ fund for the Colonel’s ‘snout.’
‘There you go.’ He put her food and drink down on the table.
‘Can you tell me anything about the informant we’re going to meet?’
‘His name’s Gentleman Jim, he’s done time for armed robbery and now he’s out he sells antiques in the flea market,’ he said brusquely.
‘Why’s he called Gentleman Jim?’
The Colonel laughed. ‘’Cause he was always polite when he robbed a bank...’ He put on a posh voice. ‘‘Please don’t press the alarm, and I’d be very grateful if you’d be so kind as to put the money in the bag.’ Then, having scared the shit out of the bank staff with a gun, he’d say “Toodle pip” before leaving.’
‘What were the rest of the gang like?’
‘Jim was always a lone blagger; figured he wasn’t going to be grassed on if he did things by himself.’
‘Is he meeting us here?’
‘No, he runs a stall further down the lane.’
‘So how does it work on the squad with informants?’
‘You give them a nickname and you have to register them with Murphy and fill in a report for secure filing every time you have a meet.’
‘And what about paying them?’
‘Fill in a payment request form and give it to Kingston, who then gets Murphy to check it. If he approves it, Kingston can give you the money out of the office safe. If you get good info that results in a conviction, the snout gets a big wedge out of any reward fund.’
Jane wondered to herself if the money the Colonel had in the envelope was meant for Gentleman Jim.
‘You can’t beat a good salt beef bagel.’
He took a large bite of his second one.
‘Do you think Jim might know something about the Leytonstone job?’
‘Well, we ain’t here to buy an antique clock from him. You don’t half ask a lot of questions, Jane.’
‘Well, you’re supposed to be the teacher.’
‘Then just watch and learn when I speak to Jim.’
Brick Lane was fuller now, with people who had come out early to try and grab a bargain. As they walked down the lane the Colonel stopped at some stalls and enquired about the merchandise or picked things up to have a look at them, trying to appear like a normal punter. He stopped at a stall and picked up a doll dressed in an old-fashioned sailor’s outfit, with a ring in one ear and realistic features. The stallholder was an overweight, elderly balding gentleman with a thick moustache, who smelt strongly of stale sweat. He wore a white shirt, grey pinstripe trousers and a black waistcoat with a pocket watch.