He had been frightened
"All right." Toni hesitated. She had something she had to ask Frank. His best friend was Carl Osborne, a local television reporter who valued sensation more than accuracy. If Carl got hold of this story, he would start a riot.
She knew that the way to get something from Frank was to be matter-of-fact, not appearing either assertive or needy. "There’s a paragraph in the protocol I’ve got to mention," she began. "It says that no statements should be made to the press without first being discussed by the main interested parties, including the police, the health board, and the company."
"No problem."
"The reason I mention it is that this doesn’t need to become a major public scare. The chances are that no one is in danger."
"Good."
"We don’t want to hold anything back, but the publicity should be calm and measured. No one needs to panic."
Frank grinned. "You’re frightened of tabloid stories about killer hamsters roaming the highlands."
"You owe me, Frank. I hope you remember."
His face darkened. "I owe you?"
She lowered her voice, although there was no one nearby. "You remember Farmer Johnny Kirk." Kirk had been a big-time cocaine importer. Born in the rough Glasgow neighborhood of Garscube Road, he had never seen a farm in his life, but got the nickname from the oversize green rubber boots he wore to ease the pain of the corns on his feet. Frank had put together a case against Farmer Johnny. During the trial, by accident, Toni had come across evidence that would have helped the defense. She had told Frank, but Frank had not informed the court. lohnny was as guilty as sin, and Frank had got a conviction—but if the truth ever came out, Frank’s career would be over.
Now Frank said angrily, "Are you threatening to bring that up again if I don’t do what you want?"
"No, just reminding you of a time when you needed me to keep quiet about something, and I did."
His attitude changed again. He had been frightened, for a moment, but now he was his old arrogant self. "We all bend the rules from time to time. That’s life."
"Yes. And I’m asking you not to leak this story to your friend Carl Osborne, or anyone else in the media."
Frank grinned. "Why, Toni," he said in a tone of mock indignation, "1 never do things like that."
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