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Layman’s mouth twisted up on one side. “I considered it, to be honest. But no. I’ve already got my hands full, and right now we can’t be completely sure these two deaths are related. The most likely explanation is that they are, but I’ve never heard that you play silly buggers with cases, Archer. You’re straight down the line. If you let me know if you find anything, I can assure you that I’ll do the same.”

“That works.” James inclined his head.

Layman gave a wave and left, and when it was clear there was nothing more to find at the Bicton residence, they locked up and Hartridge drove them back to New Scotland Yard.

As they climbed out of the car and approached the rear entrance, Galbraith stepped out.

James sensed Hartridge tensing beside him and steeled himself for a confrontation.

“Archer.” Galbraith stopped at the sight of them. “I hear you’ve got a case that connects to the heist.”

It wasn’t said warmly, but it wasn’t overly nasty, either. James wondered what might be wrong with Galbraith.

Not too long before, he’d tried to beat Hartridge up. He’d also planned to set Hartridge up to be blamed for corrupt behavior that he and Whetford were involved in. James had foiled those plans, but he didn’t think the sentiment behind them had faded and every interaction he’d had with Galbraith since had been hostile to say the least.

“It looks that way. DI Layman and I are going to coordinate.” James gave a polite nod as he and Hartridge filed past.

“Archer.” Galbraith’s hand shot out and gripped James’s forearm. “It wouldn’t be wise to spread any rumors to Layman about what you think you know about me.”

James looked at him for a long moment and tilted his head. “Rumors, is it?”

Galbraith gripped a bit harder. “If you had hard proof, I’m sure I’d be out of the force. So keep your speculation to yourself.” He shoved James’s arm away and walked off.

“Well, that’s a relief,” James said as he and Hartridge watched Galbraith go.

“A relief?” Hartridge cleared his throat.

“He was acting too friendly before that threat. I didn’t know what to make of it.”

Hartridge looked at him, face slack, and then gave a chuckle.

James smiled back at him and followed him up the stairs.

He hadn’t realized until now how worried Galbraith was about him and what he knew.

He’d had a brief conversation with the superintendent about Whetford at the close of a case last month, and he’d had the sense from that that Whetford, and whoever was close to him, was now on the outs with senior management.

Galbraith was obviously trying to distance himself from the mess that Whetford had made, and he didn’t want James talking to Layman about what he and Whetford had gotten up to together.

Galbraith had burned bridges, and now all he had in his corner were threats and tough words.

When James got to his office, he put the wheels in motion with the press office to have a hand drawn image of their mystery man and a physical description of him sent out to the papers. He’d managed to persuade Layman that he’d word things so there would be no connection to the diamond heist case for now.

They desperately needed an identity.

He only just finished everything he needed to do before it was time to head up the stairs to Layman’s task force hub to hear the progress report.

Hartridge came with him, and he sensed the nerves in his DC. It hit home again how much Galbraith and Whetford’s games with Hartridge had affected his confidence.

It made him all the more pleased to see Galbraith wasn’t in the room. He hadn’t returned yet from wherever he was off to when he’d run into James and Hartridge earlier.

The rest of Layman’s team eyed them curiously until Layman laid out their involvement.

“The pathologist thinks both men were shot with the same gun?” DS Bainvenn from Layman’s team asked.

“Yes, and both men either lived at the same house, or my victim was at least a guest there, if the clothes and the suitcase are his.” James leaned against the wall as there hadn’t been enough chairs to go around.

“It’s getting stranger and stranger,” a DC muttered. “First a heist, then a murder, now a second mysterious death.”