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to be promoted to superintendent and will be taking over "K" Division, so I need to know anything likely to involve one of my officers there.’
    Amos realized that Dyson’s father-in-law had far more to do with the proposed promotion than Dyson’s ability, but he made no comment that might alienate the detective chief any more than he had already. He needed all the help that Tom Churchyard was able to give to him.
    In the event the meeting proved to be a frustrating one. The Hoxton constable was so vague in his replies to Amos’s questions about the activities of Jimmy Banks, his relatives and their accomplices that Amos eventually brought the meeting to a close, expressing regret that Churchyard had been unable to provide as much information as he had been led to expect.
    ‘Well, of course he is not a detective.’ Dyson said smugly, ‘but if Scotland Yard is able to be of assistance while I remain in charge you may make an application to me - via the Commissioner, of course.’
    With this, Dyson ushered the two men from Cornwall out of his office, keeping Churchyard behind.
    Walking away from Scotland Yard, Amos commented bitterly, ‘We’ve had a wasted journey, Harvey. I thought Tom Churchyard would be able to tell us a great deal more than he did.’
    ‘He should have done. . . and still might.’ Harvey said. ‘When you and Inspector Dyson were leaving the office and I was saying goodbye to him he asked where we were staying. When I told him, he whispered he would come there as soon as he could get away from Scotland Yard.’
    ‘Why the need for such secrecy? If he had something to tell us why didn’t he speak when we were back there in the office?’
    ‘I believe it’s because he doesn’t trust Dyson,’ Harvey declared, ‘Did you see how dismayed he looked when Dyson said he was to take over as superintendent of "K" Division?’
    ‘No, I had other things on my mind.’ Amos replied. ‘I don’t like Dyson and never have. His methods of policing are not to my liking - but he’s still a policeman and we are both pursuing the same ends.’
    ‘Well, let’s wait and see what Tom has to say when he comes to the hotel,’ Harvey suggested.

CHAPTER 4
    The hotel where Amos and Harvey were staying overlooked St James’s Park and was only a short distance from Scotland Yard. Nevertheless, they were kept waiting for half-an-hour before Tom Churchyard joined them there.
    He explained that he had been detained by Inspector Dyson, who questioned him about what had been discussed between himself and the two Cornish policemen. Dyson seemed delighted that Amos had not gained the information for which he had come to London, adding his opinion that the Chief Constable of the Cornwall Constabulary should have requested the assistance of Scotland Yard and not sent Amos to London seeking information from a uniform policeman.
    ‘I was not sent to London.’ said Amos, ‘I came with my Chief Constable’s blessing to follow up my own enquiries. . . but you haven’t come here to discuss any differences that may exist between Inspector Dyson and myself’
    ‘Well. . . in a way I have.’ the London Constable declared, ‘I didn’t tell you very much on the way to Scotland Yard because I’d been ordered not to. The order was given to me by my inspector, but it came from Dyson. When I queried the reason for it I was told that any information about London criminals should be given in the presence of a London detective.’
    ‘It seems such an order was unnecessary,’ Amos shrugged, ‘You don’t have any information that could be of use to me.’
    Suddenly ill-at-ease, Churchyard said, ‘That isn’t strictly true, sir. I know Jimmy Banks well enough and I know those he goes around with - and what their specialities are.’
    ‘Then why did you say nothing when we were at Scotland Yard?’ Amos demanded.
    Even more uncomfortable now, Tom Churchyard replied, ‘If I speak honestly will you promise that nothing I say