Sidney Chambers and The Dangers of Temptation by James Runcie

they really are best friends: if not, then what is their game?’
    ‘Perhaps they fell out? They both killed Pascoe to get the money but then Tom tried to poison Danny to get the cash and hoped everyone would think that it was a guilt-ridden suicide attempt?’
    Sidney was surprised by Henry’s ability to think through the implications after he had been given so little information about the crime. Perhaps Barbara Wilkinson was right after all?
    He took a bus into Soho and found Johnny Johnson at the bar of his club. He seemed unusually mellow, even for him, and after he had revealed that Blossom Dearie was playing once more, Sidney wondered, uncharitably perhaps, if Johnny had been lying all along and the couple had spent the afternoon together.
    ‘You do seem to have a soft spot for her.’
    ‘You’re one to talk. How is the lady Barbara?’
    ‘She is at the heart of a murder investigation.’
    ‘Well, Blossom Dearie is my main act. I have to look after the talent and she’s quite a handful, believe me. Don’t be nosy, Sidney.’
    ‘I’m not.’
    ‘Why are you here then?’
    ‘I wondered if you had ever come across a young man called Tom Raven?’
    ‘And how on earth would I know him?’
    ‘Because his father used to be your dad’s accountant. Giles Raven.’
    ‘Oh,’ said Johnny, ‘He sails close to the wind, I’ll tell you that. They call him “The Magician”.’
    ‘I think I can guess why.’
    ‘He makes money disappear. I wouldn’t mess with him.’
    ‘Do you think he could make people disappear too?’ Sidney asked.
    ‘More than likely.’
    ‘And could you introduce me to him?’
    ‘I
could
, Sidney. But I’m not sure I want to.’
    ‘You’re trying to protect him?’
    ‘No, Sidney, I’m trying to protect
you
, you clown. That man’s so rich he doesn’t have to worry about the law. If he’s anything to do with your investigation you won’t be able to pin anything on him; and if he finds out you’re meddling then there’ll be trouble.’
    ‘I’m used to that.’
    ‘Not his kind of trouble, I can assure you. Let’s have a drink and listen to some music.’
    Blossom Dearie had a light pixie voice with husky undertones of barbed romanticism and she was determined to putdown anyone who might make the mistake of patronising her. She opened with ‘Let’s Go Where the Grass is Greener’, continued with ‘You Turn Me On Baby’, sashayed into ‘Peel Me a Grape’ and ended her first set with the satirical cabaret song ‘I’m Hip’, which had the audience laughing at their own pretentious modernity.
    Once the first set was over, Sidney told Johnny he really should be going home. ‘Do you stay until the end every night?’ he asked.
    ‘That’s my job.’
    ‘Hard on Jen.’
    ‘She’s pretty cool about it all.’
    ‘Are you sure?’
    Johnny hesitated and then told Sidney that he should go backstage and check Blossom had everything she needed. His brother-in-law could meet her if he wanted. Sidney shook his hand and grinned. ‘Rather you than me. She seems a volatile lady.’
    ‘That’s nothing unusual round here.’
    They were just about to make their final farewell when Johnny suddenly opened up. ‘Jen’s afraid the love’s run out. It hasn’t. I just don’t want to have to force things or pretend. Distractions keep me happy.’
    ‘As long as it’s not more than a “distraction”. There are limits to my tolerance – and Jen’s.’
    ‘And I’m not going to test them, Sidney. Please. Don’t worry. I love your sister. She loves me. Marriage is what it is. We can’t all be like you and Hildegard. We’re different. It’s not about passion all the time. Sometimes you just have to let things drift.’
    ‘“Treat it gentle”, as Sidney Bechet advises.’
    ‘Yes, although the great saxophonist had his women troubles and spent plenty of time in the nick. I wouldn’t follow his example too closely if I were you.’
    Back at Cambridge police station Keating was