The Devil in Disguise by Martin Edwards Page A

face value. In response to Dusty’s cheery greeting, he simply scowled. Old habits died hard and Jonah had never had any time for shirtlifters. But Dusty was a detective’s dream, a mine of information about goings-on in the city who simply loved to be quarried. With Jonah, the job mattered more than anything and he just about managed to keep his prejudices in check. Harry suspected that the old fellow might even entertain a sneaking regard for Dusty, but knew he would sooner die than admit to it.
    â€˜Glad you got my message. Pull up a chair and after we’ve had a bite I’ll explain what I’m looking for.’
    â€˜I’ve got company,’ the old man said with his habitual truculence.
    Harry had noticed a bespectacled young woman in dungarees threading her way through the tables behind Jonah, but he had not imagined they were together. She stepped forward and offered her hand. ‘Stephanie Hall. Pleased to meet you, Mr Devlin. I’ve heard a lot about you.’
    As they shook hands, Harry tried to weigh her up. She had a fresh face, a mop of unruly fair hair and a grip that would not have shamed a prison warder. There was something about her cast of features that reminded Harry of someone, but he could not place it. He was too busy wondering why Jonah had brought her along.
    â€˜I never realised I was famous.’
    â€˜Your detective exploits, of course. Jonah here has told me all about the cases you’ve been involved with. He doesn’t have much time for amateurs but I bet that, if pushed, he might make an exception for you.’
    Harry was bemused by the fond, almost proprietorial way in which she referred to the old man, who was shifting uncomfortably in his chair. ‘You work together?’ he asked cautiously.
    â€˜Partners,’ Stephanie beamed.
    He gaped at her. Female private eyes were nothing new, but Jonah teaming up with a girl less than half his age? It was less likely than a joint venture between the Law Society and a troupe of morris dancers. ‘Oh. Right. And since when...?’
    â€˜Well, I’m jumping the gun slightly. Officially the partnership commencement date is the first of next month. But I’m on board now and we’ve made a few small changes already.’
    â€˜Ah. The answering machine?’
    â€˜For example. Though I’m having some trouble persuading Jonah to switch it on. But as I’ve said to him, we have to move with the times. Clients’ expectations have changed since he first hung up his nameplate. We have to offer a quality service. Customer care. Value for money.’
    To judge by the crimsoning of his leathery cheeks, Jonah had experienced increasing difficulty in keeping quiet throughout these exchanges. Finally the old curmudgeon could bear it no more.
    â€˜Stephanie’s my sister’s daughter, you see.’ Harry had never heard him sound so defensive. ‘She’s always been keen on the idea of coming into the business.’
    â€˜And you’ve said no for the past two years, haven’t you?’ she said with an amused glint in her eye. ‘But in the end you saw it made sense.’
    â€˜We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?’ he said grumpily.
    Stephanie winked at Harry. ‘He’s expecting me to fall flat on my face. But the fact is, Mr Devlin, he isn’t getting any younger. He has all the experience and contacts, but he needs another pair of hands. I may not be an ex-copper, but I’m brimming with enthusiasm and I’m full of ideas.’
    Harry organised the food and as they ate he learned a little more about the odd couple’s plans. Stephanie was a geography graduate, but since her teens she had always had a yearning to follow in her uncle’s footsteps. It offered, she said, a perfect opportunity to satisfy her natural curiosity about people and to be paid for the privilege.
    By the time he was pouring out the tea, Harry decided