The Informant (49 page)

Nicci Armstrong got off the train at Glasgow Central station. It was a city she’d never visited before, but using the map on her phone she found her way to Sauchiehall Street and the bar
where they’d arranged to meet. It was part of a chain, but targeting the cooler, top-end of the market, not exactly a typical art student hang-out, which was the point. She took a stool at
the high bar and was ordering herself a glass of Pinot Grigio when she noticed a vaguely familiar figure approaching. The hair was shorter, cut in a trendy crop, the clothes were quirky and retro.
She was carrying a large A1 portfolio and a leather satchel. She gave Nicci a tentative smile.

‘Found it okay then?’

Nicci nodded. ‘I don’t know what to call you.’

The young woman held out her hand. ‘Clare O’Keeffe. Pleased to meet you.’

They shook hands awkwardly. Nicci came away with a film of charcoal on her fingers. Clare looked embarrassed.

‘Bit mucky, sorry about that. Life drawing class.’

Nicci smiled. ‘Don’t worry. Drink?’

‘Just a mineral water.’

Nicci ordered from the barman, they collected their drinks and settled themselves in a corner booth.

Nicci raised her glass. ‘Well, I don’t know if you’ll want to drink to this or not, but we’ve got a trial date. Tenth of April.’

Clare raised her glass and clinked it with Nicci’s. ‘I’ll be glad to get it over with.’

Nicci nodded. ‘I’m sure. I’ve tried calling your sister a few times, but she never gets back to me.’

Clare sighed. ‘When she left Woodcote Hall Mum persuaded her to go home. I asked her to come up here and live with me, but she wouldn’t.’

‘Do you think she’ll manage to stay clean if she’s back there?’

A look of anxiety crossed Clare’s face, but she pushed it away.

‘I dunno. I wanted to give her my number so she could stay in touch, but my Witness Protection Officer said absolutely not.’

‘I’d agree with that. They wouldn’t even give me your number, only pass on a message.’ Nicci took a sip of her drink. ‘The other thing I need to tell you is about
Ashley Carter.’

Clare smiled wistfully. ‘Poor old Ash. I don’t think my brother treated him that well.’

‘Seems the worm has turned. He’s been separated from Joey for quite a few months now and his family have got him a smart new lawyer who wants to get some leverage on his sentence. We
hope he’s going to become a prosecution witness, testify about the murder of Alex Marlow.’

Clare raised her eyebrows. ‘I always did think Ash was smarter than he looked. But he’d been running round after Joey since they was about ten.’

‘He’s also saying Joey shot Dave Harper, Glynis’s boyfriend.’

Clare’s eyes widened. ‘No kidding! Well well.’

She pondered this for a moment, sipped her mineral water and smiled to herself. She seemed quieter and more contained than Nicci remembered. But then suddenly her eyes lit up.

‘I’ve been reading the papers. Woodentop’s making a name for himself.’

Nicci gave her a puzzled look, then she realized. ‘You mean Alan Turnbull? Yeah he’s certainly stirring things up.’

Clare gave her a mischievous grin. ‘Did you lot really think I was gonna fall for Bradley?’

Nicci returned the smile and held up her palm. ‘Hey, no one ever consulted me. It was something the bosses dreamt up.’

‘Now they’re all trying to blame each other.’

‘Pretty much.’

Clare’s gaze drifted off, she seemed lost in reverie. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

‘I liked him though. Didn’t want to. But he was a persistent little fucker.’

Nicci smiled ruefully. ‘Yep, he was that all right.’

They sat in silence for several minutes. Nicci watched Clare tracing a pattern in the beads of moisture on the side of her glass. She remembered Bradley doing the exact same thing, but she
quickly put the memory away.

‘Did you pick the new name yourself?’

Clare nodded. ‘It’s after Georgia O’Keeffe, one of my favourite artists. Thought it’d give me something to live up to, keep me on track.’

Nicci sighed. ‘Never heard of her I’m afraid.’ She raised her chin, gave Clare a searching look. ‘It must be hard, just walking away from everything and everyone. Cutting
yourself off so completely.’

Nicci couldn’t imagine it, never seeing Sophie again, even her parents, that would be hard enough.

Clare looked at her, smiled, then her gaze shifted off into the distance, out of the window and into the streets beyond.

‘No it’s not. It’s not hard, it’s brilliant. It’s what I’ve always wanted. Just to walk away. Start again as a different person.’

Nicci scanned her face, she wondered if that were even possible. But if it was she hoped with all her heart that Kaz Phelps had achieved it.

Making the transition from television writer to novelist has not been an easy passage and I’m enormously grateful to everyone who’s given me their support, not to
mention their time and expertise. Thanks to Jill Foster, Gary Wild, Alison Finch and Dominic Lord, for always being there but also respecting my need to chase a dream.

Anne Sharp and Win Browne were both generous with their introductions. Professor Dave Barclay was informative and invaluable as he is for so many crime writers. Joan Scott, Kathy Lefanu, Brian
Chapman and DCI Roy Ledingham all gave me a wealth of professional insights and procedural detail. Lisanne Radice and Jenny Parrot guided me through early drafts with their editorial skills. And
special thanks to GC, whose input was indispensable.

I was lucky enough to secure the indomitable Jane Gregory as my agent, she and her team have proved excellent guides in this new world. Trisha Jackson, my editor, whilst shepherding me gently
through an unfamiliar process, has brought her sharp intellect to bear on the more wobbly parts of the text. Laura Carr has provided invaluable guidance with grammar and syntax. The backup team at
Pan Macmillan have all been friendly and helpful on everything from marketing strategies to social media.

And last but by no means least a very special thank you to my two first readers Sue Kenyon and Jenny Kenyon, without whom . . .

The explosive sequel to
The Informant

If she can’t get justice, will she settle for vengeance?

Kaz Phelps has escaped her brother and her criminal past to become an anonymous art student in Glasgow. But can life under the witness protection scheme ever give her the
freedom she craves?

Banged up and brooding, Joey Phelps faces thirty years behind bars. Still, with cash and connections on the outside, can an overstretched prison system really contain him?

Helen Warner, once Kaz’s lawyer and lover, is a rising star in Parliament. But has she made the kind of enemies who have no regard for the democratic process, or even the law?

Ousted from the police and paralysed by tragic personal loss, Nicci Armstrong is in danger of going under. Can a job she doesn’t want with a private security firm help her to put her life
back together?

A murder dressed up as suicide and corruption that goes to the heart of government unite ex-cop and ex-con in a deadly quest to learn the truth. What they discover
proves what both have always known – villainy is rife on both sides of the law.

After a degree in law and a stint as a journalist, Susan Wilkins embarked on a career in television drama. She has written numerous scripts for shows ranging from
Casualty
and
Heartbeat
to
Coronation Street
and
EastEnders
. She created and wrote the London-based detective drama
South of the Border
of which the BBC
made two series.
The Informant
is her first novel and she’s currently working on the sequel.

First published 2014 by Pan Books

This electronic edition published 2014 by Pan Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
Pan Macmillan, 20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
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Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com

ISBN 978-1-4472-4143-0

Copyright © Susan Wilkins 2014

Cover Images © Colin Thomas

The right of Susan Wilkins to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital,
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liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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