I sat back and thought it over. I'd known Eddie slightly back in the days when there were more independent PEAs than now. Most work for corporations these days and spend their time on keyboards. Like me, Eddie was ex-army and one of the old school, from the time when surveillance was done personally rather than by programmed cameras, people carried cash that needed protecting, and car insurance scams were all the go. Unlike me, he was as crooked as they come, and after several warnings he lost his licence. I hadn't heard anything of him recently and didn't know that he was dead.

'If Clement's as ruthless as you say, he might've got to Billie as well.'

'I don't think so. When I talked to her she implied there was someone else inside Clement's organisation that had it in for him and was tipping her off. I think that person told her to lay low.'

'Any idea who that could be?'

'No. I'm working on it.'

'She could be anywhere-England, the US, South Africa, the Philippines…'

Lou dug in her bag and came up with a packet of Nicorettes. She released one and popped it in. 'I quit when I started on this book. Knew if I didn't, I'd smoke myself to death in the process.'

'Good move.'

She got the gum going. 'No, Billie wouldn't leave Sydney. Couldn't. Born and bred here and she's done everything low-life Sydney you can think of-stripped, whored, used and sold drugs, done time, informed-you name it. And I know something about her no one else much knows.'

'Which is?'

'Are you willing to take it on?'

'It's expensive, Lou, and there's no guarantee of success.'

'Look-' she leaned forward-'I know that. I got a decent advance for this book and I can afford to pay you. At least for a while.'

'What if you have to cough up to Billie?'

She knew she had me and she smiled. 'I'd negotiate with the publisher. C'mon, Cliff. Like you said, you haven't got anything much else going on. I don't hear feet on the stairs. The phone hasn't rung. I bet you haven't got a whole bunch of exciting emails to answer.'