The Dirty Dozen

Chapter Twelve

Jane was up at 6:30 the next morning, as she didn’t know what the journey to work would be like at that time and didn’t want to be late. After a light breakfast of tea and toast with marmalade she got ready for work. Although most of the team dressed in what was commonly referred to in the job as ‘scruffs,’ she decided to dress smart but casual. After a few minutes hemming and hawing, she put on her blue Wrangler jeans, a white T-shirt, blue blazer and white trainers, which she thought would be the most practical if she had to chase anyone. She was out of the door and on her way by seven and was parking her car in one of the spaces in front of the building just before eight, which was quicker than she expected.

There was no one in the office and, looking at her lone desk in the corner of the room, she decided to move it over to Teflon’s group of four. She disconnected the phone line, then removed the drawers and tried pulling and pushing the desk, but it was too heavy for her to move on her own. Luckily Dabs then walked in and Jane asked if he’d mind helping her.

‘No problem,’ he said, taking his coat off.

‘It’s quite heavy so it’s probably best if I push and you pull.’

As they slid the desk across the office, Dabs asked if she’d heard back from the traffic officer about the ignition barrel on the Cortina.

‘Not yet. I’ll give him a call just before the meeting as DCI Murphy said he wants the owner of the car visited today.’

‘How did your further enquiries go last night at Edgar House?’

‘Very productive, actually. I found out about another two men who were seen leaving the estate just before the fire was discovered.’

‘Well done. Would the witness recognize them again?’

‘I doubt it, but she described one of them as wearing a cap like the one the pub landlady said the driver of the Cortina was wearing, and she thinks she saw the two men with the duffle bag in a Mercedes sports car.’

‘Sounds like it’s all coming together nicely — the DCI will be pleased.’

‘We’ll see.’ Jane doubted Murphy would be pleased with anything she did at the moment. ‘I’ve got some follow-up work to do on the four men, and the previous ownership of garage twenty-nine. I’m hoping it will give us something positive to work on.’

‘Be interesting to hear at the office meeting if anyone else has discovered anything of value. You fancy a bacon sarnie and coffee from the burger van?’

‘A bacon roll would be great — I’ll put the kettle on and make us a coffee.’

She reached into her handbag and got some money out of her purse.

‘I’ll get them — your shout next time.’

‘OK. Could I have some brown sauce with mine, please?’

While the kettle boiled Jane put the drawers back in her desk, reconnected the phone and went over to Katie’s desk to get the typewriter so she could finish typing her report. She noticed that Katie had only started typing one of the handwritten statements taken from the security guards and part of it was still in the typewriter. She sat down at Katie’s desk and began to type the rest of the statement.

When Dabs returned with the bacon rolls, Jane made the coffees and sat at her own desk to eat. She could imagine Katie’s reaction if she got any crumbs or brown sauce on hers. Dabs said he had a few things to do before the meeting and went to his office. After finishing her roll, she went back to typing up the statement at Katie’s desk, and was just about finished when Katie walked in.

Jane smiled brightly. ‘Good morning, Katie. I was just—’

‘What are you doing at my desk?’ she snapped.

‘I needed the typewriter for my report and thought I’d finish the security guards’ statement for you before I used it.’

‘I’m perfectly capable of doing my own typing.’

Jane took a deep breath. ‘Sorry. I thought you wanted help typing the statements.’

‘I did last night, but I’ve cleared my desk of other work so I can do them today.’

‘Well, if you want me to do some just let me know,’ Jane said with a shrug.

Katie pointed to a typewriter on the Colonel’s desk.

‘There’s a spare one there you can use for your reports. Why have you moved your desk?’

Jane thought it was obvious. ‘I thought it would be more productive as a DS if I sat with members of the team — like DS Stanley does.’

‘You should have asked for permission first.’

‘I didn’t know I needed it.’

‘Well, I suggest you put it back where it was and ask DCI Murphy if you can move it.’

‘It’s only a desk, Katie.’

‘That’s not the point. The office is laid out the way it is for a reason.’

‘And what reason would that be?’ Jane asked, letting her annoyance show.

‘How would you like it if I just walked into your house and rearranged the furniture the way I wanted it to be?’

Jane shook her head in disbelief. ‘That’s a ridiculous comparison, but if it will make you feel better I’ll tell DCI Murphy I moved my desk and ask him if he’s OK about it.’

‘I’d still put it back where it was if I were you.’

‘It’s that heavy I nearly pulled a muscle moving it in the first place — so it can stay where it is for now.’

At that moment DCI Murphy walked into the office, followed by the Colonel and Teflon.

‘Everything all right, ladies?’ Murphy asked, sensing an air of hostility between the two women.

Katie was quick to answer before Jane could get a word in.

‘As you can see, DS Tennison has moved her desk. I told her she should have asked your permission before doing so.’

‘It’s fine there by me.’ Teflon gave Jane a wink.

Katie glared at him. ‘I was speaking to DCI Murphy.’

Murphy sighed. ‘It’s only a bloody desk, Katie. I couldn’t give a toss if Tennison wants to put it in the backyard, as long as she gets on with her work. Who owns that custard tart on wheels that’s parked in my space?’

‘If you’re referring to the yellow VW Golf, that’s mine, sir,’ Jane said.

‘Well, don’t park it there again. Someone get me a bacon and egg roll and a cup of tea.’

He slapped a pound note down on the desk and went into his office.

Jane frowned. ‘What’s the problem? There are plenty of spaces out there.’

Teflon smiled. ‘Yeah, but he likes the one nearest the entrance in case it’s raining. I’ll put the kettle on.’

‘Don’t move the kettle, Teflon, or all hell could break loose,’ the Colonel joked, and Jane smiled.

Katie grabbed the pound note before stomping out of the room to the burger van.

‘What’s up with her?’ Teflon asked.

‘Who knows?’ The Colonel shrugged. ‘Probably the wrong time of the month — either that or she’s desperate for a shag.’ He draped his jacket over the back of his chair, then threw his cap at the coat rack, where it landed on one of the hooks. ‘James Bond or what?’ he said with a grin.

‘Fiver says you can’t do it two out of three,’ Teflon challenged. ‘That was a bloody fluke, and you know it.’

The Colonel settled himself behind his desk.

‘I could do it easy, but I don’t want to take your money, so I won’t.’

‘You two want a hot drink?’ Teflon asked.

Jane said she’d like a coffee and went over to give him a hand, while the Colonel got a clear plastic sports bottle out of his backpack with a thick pale liquid in it and held it up.

‘No thanks, I’ve got me banana, egg and water mix, so I’m fine.’ He shook the bottle then took a swig.

‘He thinks it makes him stronger, but all it does is make him fart a lot,’ Teflon whispered to Jane. ‘Was Katie really getting upset about the desk or just having a go at you?’

‘I don’t know — a bit of both, maybe. I’m doing my best to be friendly towards her, but I think she’s got a bee in her bonnet about me being on the team.’

‘Well, she’s going to have to get used to it and stop being so high and mighty. If she does start on you again just put her in her place — as a DS she’s answerable to you, not the other way around.’

‘Trouble is, I think she’d go running to Murphy and complain. The last thing I need right now is to give him a reason to reprimand me.’

‘As you just saw, Murphy finds her a pain in the arse at times, so I wouldn’t worry about it. If she’s going to complain about you it would probably be to Kingston.’

‘Why him?’ she asked, trying not to sound too curious.

‘Everyone reckons Katie’s got the hots for him. She’s in and out of his office like a yo-yo and does whatever he asks at the drop of a hat — if he said jump, she’d ask how high.’

‘Do you think he fancies her?’ she asked, wondering if he knew about their affair.

Teflon laughed. ‘Kingston’s definitely a ladies’ man, but personally I think he just likes to flirt with Katie to keep her on her toes. Mind you, some of the lads reckon they’re at it.’

‘What does DCI Murphy think?’

‘Don’t know. Although he’s pretty close to Kingston, I don’t think he’d approve if they were screwing each other.’

Jane realized she was probably the only one on the team who knew for a fact Katie and Kingston were having a sexual relationship, and she was going to keep it that way for fear of being called a scandalmonger. The last thing she wanted was to alienate Kingston, one of the few who had so far accepted her on the team. She sat at her desk with her coffee and rang PC Turner, the traffic officer.

‘Hi, it’s WDS Tennison. I was just calling to ask if there’s any news on the burnt-out Cortina’s ignition barrel.’

‘Did you not get my report?’

‘No, but I don’t think the morning dispatch has arrived here yet. Your report may still be in transit.’

‘I didn’t put it in dispatch — I delivered it by hand last night and was told you were out on enquiries.’

‘Who did you give it to?’

‘I spoke to a lady on the intercom who said she was the office clerk. She came down to the front entrance and I handed it to her. She asked what it was about, and I told her my examination of the burnt-out Cortina and ignition barrel.’

‘That would be Katie. It may be on her desk. What was the result with the barrel?’

‘I took it to bits and did a microscopic examination. There’s no evidence I can find that suggests to me a screwdriver or similar implement was forced into the barrel to start the car.’

‘Looks like the owner of the car may be hiding something then,’ she remarked.

‘Certainly does. My report contains everything I did at Edgar House yesterday. If you need a written statement just let me know and I’ll get it typed up here then forward both copies to you.’

‘Thanks. Can I ask what time you dropped the report off?’

‘About six. Is there a problem?’

‘No, not at all. Thanks for everything you’ve done, it’s really useful and I know our DCI will be pleased.’

‘It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope you catch the villains.’

Jane put the phone down and looked in her in tray and desk drawers, but there was no sign of the report. She then looked on Katie’s desk, but it wasn’t there either. She contemplated looking in Katie’s desk drawers but didn’t want to look as if she was snooping. Looking out of the window she could see Katie walking across the road, carrying Murphy’s food in a brown bag, so she went out onto the landing and waited for her.

‘Have you got a report that was dropped off for me by a Traffic Division officer last night?’ Jane asked as Katie appeared.

‘I put it on DCI Murphy’s desk,’ she said casually, brushing past Jane.

Jane followed her. ‘But it was addressed to me.’

‘I know, but when the traffic officer said what it was about, and you weren’t here, I thought DCI Murphy should see it in case he wanted to action further enquiries right away.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me about it when I got back to the station last night?’

Katie turned, shrugged her shoulders and looked at Jane nonchalantly.

‘I forgot. Now if you don’t mind I need to take this to DCI Murphy,’ she said, holding up the bag.

‘Did he send anyone round to the Cortina owner’s house?’

‘I don’t know, I didn’t ask him,’ she said, entering Murphy’s office.

Jane was certain Katie had given the report to Murphy and not told her about it deliberately to annoy her. As she walked back into the office, she was determined not to let Katie’s behavior get to her, but she knew there might come a point where she would need to heed Teflon’s advice and reprimand her.

Katie put Murphy’s roll and tea on his desk.

‘Just a dab of tomato sauce and lots of pepper, the way you like it, sir.’

Murphy grunted his thanks. ‘Is there a problem between you and Tennison?’

‘No, sir, I just felt she should have had the decency to ask before she moved her desk, that’s all.’

‘You don’t like Tennison, do you?’

‘I don’t really know her yet, but it I suppose it would be fair to say she’s not someone I’d necessarily socialize with.’

Murphy nodded. ‘I’d like you to do something for me but keep it between the two of us.’

‘Yes, sir, you can trust me to be discreet.’

‘While I’m in here, and Tennison’s out there, I want you to keep an eye on her for me. When she puts a report in to be indexed, go over it with a fine-toothed comb and let me know if there’s anything she hasn’t done she should have done.’

‘Will DI Kingston still be going over her reports after I’ve indexed them?’

‘Yes, but I don’t think he’ll be as thorough as he should.’

‘Why not?’

‘He seems to like Tennison and thinks we should give her a chance to prove herself.’

‘He said that?’ Katie asked, her brows furrowed.

‘Yes, but as far as I’m concerned she should be treated the same as everyone else. If her work’s not up to scratch or the standards I expect, I need to know for her first monthly review as a new member of the team.’

Katie smiled. ‘Would you like me to eavesdrop on her telephone calls as well?’

Murphy hesitated. ‘When you can, but don’t make it too obvious. Like I said, this conversation is just between the two of us. It would be good if you were nice to her as well — that way she won’t suspect anything untoward.’

Katie sighed. ‘I’ll do my best.’

He picked up an envelope. ‘This is addressed to Tennison; someone must have put it on my desk by mistake. Can you give it to her?’

‘That was me, sir — a Traffic Division officer delivered it late last night.’ She explained what the report was about. ‘I realized how important the information might be and thought you might like to see it first thing and decide what action needed to be taken before the meeting. I also ran a criminal record check on Mr. Braun, who reported the Cortina stolen, but there was no trace of him.’

‘Good thinking, Katie. I’ll read the report while I have my breakfast — then when everyone’s in we’ll crack on with the meeting.’

‘There was something else that got phoned in last night.’

‘Fire away,’ he said as he bit into the roll.

‘The duty sergeant from Tottenham called last night and said a woman came to the station alleging some men in a local cafe were talking about a robbery.’

‘Is that it? No details of what she heard being said?’

‘I did ask but the sergeant said he was very busy and had just got her name and address when he had to take an urgent phone call. When he got off the phone the woman had left the station.’

‘I doubt the people we’re after would be so stupid as to openly talk in a cafe about a blagging they were going to do! Sounds like the woman’s a nutter looking for attention to me.’

‘I agree it’s probably nonsense, but it would be wrong of us to ignore it — so I was thinking WDS Tennison would be the ideal person to follow it up,’ she added with a bright smile.

Murphy took a mouthful of tea to wash his food down and grinned.

‘Draw up an action to interview the woman and I’ll give it to Tennison to deal with at the meeting.’

As she left his office, Murphy opened the envelope containing PC Turner’s report, feeling pleased with himself. He knew Katie would do everything she could to find fault in Tennison’s work, and that way he couldn’t be accused of carrying out a personal vendetta against her.

Katie approached Jane as she was sitting at her desk typing.

‘DCI Murphy is reading the traffic officer’s report. I explained to him why I put it on his desk and asked if I could give it to you, but he said he’d like to read it first. I’m sorry I forgot to mention it last night, but I wasn’t feeling well, and it just slipped my mind. Next time I’ll put anything that comes in for you straight on your desk.’

Jane looked up from her typing. She wondered if Murphy had said something to make Katie apologize for her behavior. Or perhaps she really had just forgotten. After all, she’d just been having sex with Kingston, and was clearly flustered when Jane turned up.

‘Forget about it, Katie. Even if I’d known about the report last night no action could be taken until DCI Murphy had read it.’

‘Thanks. Would you like a hot drink?’

‘No thanks, I’ve just had one. I’ve nearly finished my report, then if you like I could type one of the statements on your desk.’

‘That would be great, but the office meeting will be starting as soon as everyone’s here.’

‘Well, I’ll do what I can before it starts.’

Katie went to her desk, picked up a handwritten statement and gave it to Jane.

Kingston walked in carrying a coffee and a sausage roll and went straight to his office. Katie quickly followed him, then closed the door behind her and stood by his desk with her arms crossed.

‘Where did you go with Tennison last night?’

Kingston put his breakfast down on the desk.

‘I didn’t go anywhere with her — I went to the Crown to get a statement from the landlady.’

He pulled the statement out of the folder and showed it to her.

‘Then why did you leave together?’

‘I told her to go home. She got in her car then drove off in the opposite direction to me. For Christ’s sake, what’s your problem, Katie?’

‘I just thought the way you left last night was rather abrupt, especially as we’d just... you know. It felt as if you were more interested in her.’

He pointed to himself. ‘Me, interested in Tennison? You couldn’t be more wrong — I don’t even find her attractive.’

‘Then why are you being so nice to her?’

‘Being nice doesn’t mean I fancy her—’

‘DCI Murphy doesn’t like her.’

‘Murphy doesn’t like the fact a woman is on the Flying Squad. He sees Tennison as a liability and will do his damnedest to get rid of her.’

‘And will you help him?’

‘Look, I made a few phone calls before she came here. By all accounts she’s not a bad detective, but working on the Flying Squad is a totally different ball game from divisional work and I for one don’t think she’ll be up to it.’

‘Murphy wants me to keep an eye on her and report back to him if she messes up.’

‘Then there’s no need for me to get involved as well.’

‘As her DI you should bring her mistakes to Murphy’s attention.’

‘I know what my job is, Katie, and I’m not going to put myself on the line with Murphy by not doing it — least of all for Tennison. Now can I please finish my sausage roll in peace before the office meeting?’

‘My boyfriend’s out with his mates tonight so you could come around to mine if...’

Kingston frowned. ‘He nearly caught us last time I did that. I ripped my jacket climbing over your garden fence, and my wife started asking me questions about how it happened.’

‘Maybe we should tell our other halves that we’ve met someone else,’ Katie suggested. ‘Then we can openly be together and stop sneaking around — I’m tired of sex in the gym or a car.’

He obviously wasn’t expecting this.

‘We both agreed our relationship was just a fling. Besides, you only just got engaged to Brian. You don’t really want to break it off, do you?’

‘I don’t know. I don’t think Brian and I are right together. He’s not like you — sex with him is like a boring routine.’

This was something new and it was making Kingston anxious. He certainly had no intention of leaving his wife for another woman — least of all Katie.

‘Now’s not a good time to be having this conversation, Katie.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because there’s a lot to discuss, and it needs to be in private, away from the office.’

‘Tonight then, at mine... after work.’

She left before he could answer.

Kingston threw what was left of his sausage roll in the bin, his appetite suddenly gone.

Katie quickly typed up an information sheet concerning the phone call from the Tottenham duty sergeant and took it to Murphy. She told him everyone was in the office ready for the meeting, apart from the officers who were still on surveillance regarding the possible jewelry shop robbery in Chingford. He read the sheet, then wrote ‘WDS Tennison to deal’ under the ‘Further action’ box and signed it before going into the office to start the meeting. Katie got the flip chart to write on and stood next to Murphy and Kingston, marker pen in hand.

‘Anyone get anything positive from their snouts last night?’ Murphy asked loudly to get everyone’s attention, but there was no response.

Grim-faced, he went over to Katie’s desk to look at the office duty book, in which everyone recorded their times on and off duty along with brief details of what they were doing and why.

‘I see you all managed to claim a few hours’ overtime for meeting informants — but not one of you has anything constructive to show for it!’

Stanley stuck his hand up. ‘I was given a couple of names, Guv. I ran a Criminal Records Office check on them this morning — they’re both known blaggers, but they’re in Wormwood Scrubs at present.’

Baxter also spoke up. ‘I had a similar result with a suspect, but he popped his clogs from a drugs OD a month ago—’

Murphy raised his hand for Baxter to stop talking.

‘What bloody use is that to us? I expect you all to get results — not sit in a pub pissing it up with informants giving you a load of bollocks all night!’ He scowled and looked at the Colonel. ‘I authorized twenty quid for you out of the informants’ fund, so what was the result?’

Kingston spoke up. ‘He can’t see his snout until Sunday morning.’

‘I’m reasonably confident he’ll have something for us, Guv — he always proved reliable in the past,’ the Colonel added.

‘Well, you better put the Commissioner’s money where your mouth is. What about the checks on recent armed robberies with the home counties, Katie?’

‘I’ve spoken to Hertfordshire and Kent CID, but they’ve had nothing similar in the last six months. Essex and Surrey have a possible and I’m waiting for them to fax the details over to me.’

‘Why are the carrot cruncher forces always so bloody slow with everything? Let me see it as soon as it arrives. Any update on the forensics, Dabs?’

‘I’ve spoken to the scientist in the gun room. He’s aware of the priorities and said he’ll start on the exhibits as soon as we submit them, which will be after the meeting. I’ve prepared the lab form and just need DS Tennison as exhibits officer to check it before you sign it.’ He held the lab form up.

‘Let me see it.’

Murphy got a pen out, signed the lab form and gave it back to Dabs.

Jane wasn’t sure if he’d signed it without reading it to save time, or just to belittle her in front of the team.

‘While we’re on forensics, I’ve had a result back from the traffic PC who examined the Cortina’s ignition barrel. There’s no sign that a screwdriver was forced into the barrel, which puts the owner’s claim it was stolen in doubt. I’d like the Colonel and Bax to pay Mr. Braun a visit after the meeting. If you think he’s lying or being evasive then nick him.’

Jane wasn’t surprised Murphy hadn’t acknowledged it was her idea to call the traffic officer to examine the Cortina, but it was still galling. She raised her hand, but Murphy ignored her and looked instead at Kingston.

‘Stewart, did you manage to get a statement from the landlady of the pub?’

‘Yes, and the artist’s impression, which is up on the wall.’

He took a duplicate out of a folder, which he handed to Murphy.

‘That’s a good drawing — get some “Appeal for Assistance” posters made up with details of the robbery, then circulate it Met-wide and in the papers. I know it could result in a shedload of dead-end calls, but we might strike lucky. Once it’s circulated Tennison can help Katie man the phones and make CRO enquiries with any names we’re given. Have you made an appointment for Simpson to view albums at the Yard, Stewart?’

‘She’s busy all weekend and can’t get anyone to manage the pub for her until Monday at the earliest.’

‘Tell her it’s urgent, see if you can rearrange it for an earlier time, or to speed things up, get an album made up of mugshots that look like the artist’s impression and within the same age range. Then Tennison can take it to her to look through.’

Jane knew Murphy was deliberately burdening her with all the menial tasks but knew she couldn’t complain about it without angering him further. Teflon nudged her arm.

‘I’ll give you a hand with the phones and mugshot albums,’ he whispered.

‘Thanks,’ she whispered back.

‘Did Simpson remember anything else significant?’ Murphy asked.

Kingston nodded. ‘Only in relation to the cap the driver of the getaway car was wearing, which, linked with information Tennison obtained, would appear to be a gray “newsboy” style cap.’

‘What was the information?’ he asked Kingston.

‘It might be best if Tennison tells you as she actually spoke to the witness who saw the two men—’

‘I’m happy for you to tell us,’ Murphy said with an icy smile.

‘Er—’

Kingston paused to remember the salient parts of what Jane had told him. Jane decided she had to speak up, whatever the consequences.

‘There’s quite a bit for DI Kingston to remember. Perhaps he might like to read from my report I typed up last night — in my own time.’

She spread the six pages out like a fan and handed them to Kingston.

‘Just read out the relevant bits,’ Murphy snapped.

Kingston looked at Jane. ‘Where does the interview with Mrs. Clarke start about the two men she saw leaving the estate before the fire was discovered?’

‘It was Rita Brown from flat 14 Edgar House who saw them. Her account and description starts on page three, second paragraph down,’ she replied.

Murphy sighed. ‘You told us about them at yesterday’s meeting, Tennison, and as I recall Mrs. Clarke only saw them from behind, which isn’t much use to us.’

‘The Clarkes own the garage the burnt-out Cortina was found in, sir. Mrs. Brown had returned home after seeing the two men in Blake Hall Road. She immediately took her dog outside for a wee and saw two more men leaving the estate. It was shortly after that the fire brigade were called.’

‘Why didn’t you get this information from Mrs. Brown during the initial house-to-house?’ Murphy asked, clearly trying to find fault in her work.

‘I was doing the forensics with Dabs. A uniform sergeant initially spoke to Mrs. Brown, and having read his report on the house-to-house form I decided a revisit was necessary. When the further information came to light I returned to the station and informed DI Kingston.’

‘Which is why I got a statement from Fiona Simpson last night,’ Kingston added.

Murphy glared at Kingston, then turned to Jane.

‘It would have been helpful to know all this before the meeting. Carry on, Stewart.’

Kingston looked up from the report.

‘Mrs. Brown’s description of the man in the newsboy cap is also very similar to the driver of the car as Simpson described him to me.’

‘How can Mrs. Brown be so certain it’s a newsboy cap?’ Stanley asked.

‘Because her husband has one,’ Jane replied.

‘Would Mrs. Brown be able to recognize these two men if she saw them again?’ Murphy asked.

‘I doubt it, she only got a fleeting look at them as her dog ran off after a squirrel.’

‘Maybe we could interview her dog and the squirrel for a better description,’ Baxter joked, but Murphy wasn’t amused.

Kingston held up Jane’s report.

‘There’s some other information Mrs. Brown gave Tennison.’

Kingston handed Jane back her typed report.

‘I feel like I’m stealing your thunder — and you’re also better placed to answer any questions.’

Jane looked at Murphy, who gave her a curt nod to continue. She recounted her meetings at Edgar House with Helen Clarke and Rita Brown, and mentioned the two men in a gold two-door Mercedes 450 SL with a black cloth roof.

‘How can she be sure it was them in the Merc?’ Stanley asked.

‘She can’t, but she noticed the driver was wearing a green Barbour jacket and had the same colored hair as the man she’d just seen.’

‘There’s no direct evidence to connect any of this to the robbery,’ the Colonel remarked.

Jane was determined to make her point.

‘Granted it could all be circumstantial, but I think there’s more to it when you consider the witness descriptions of the men, especially the newsboy cap, the timing between the robbery, the crash and then the burnt-out Cortina being found nearby.’

There was silence in the room as everyone digested this. Teflon was the first to speak up.

‘I’d say it merits further investigation.’

‘I’ll make that decision, Teflon, not you,’ Murphy said.

‘I should also add that I found a cigar butt in Aylmer Road where the Cortina was parked just before the robbery,’ Jane added.

‘When?’ Murphy asked.

‘Yesterday afternoon on my way back to the office from Edgar House.’

Murphy frowned. ‘Why didn’t you mention the cigar before now?’

‘I tried to at yesterday’s meeting, but no one seemed interested. When I revisited Mrs. Brown last night she was adamant one of them was smoking a cigar.’

Murphy made a beckoning motion with his fingers.

‘I’ll have a read of your report then decide what needs to be done.’ He looked at the Colonel. ‘Have we got a statement from the off-duty PC who was shot?’

‘Not yet, Guv. I was going to do it today if I got time.’

‘The Cortina owner’s your priority. Teflon, you and Cam get the statements from the PC who was shot and the two in the patrol car that crashed. Did we hear back from the bank about a reward?’

‘Not yet — I’ll chase him up after the meeting.’

‘Right, you all know what you’ve got to do, so get out there and start working.’

He turned and started to walk towards his office.

The Colonel raised his hand. ‘Excuse me, Guv, but what’s happening regarding the surveillance job the rest of the team are on?’

‘It’s still ongoing. I spoke to DC Freeman this morning and there’s good information that the two men they’re watching may hit a jeweler’s in Chingford next Wednesday.’

‘Will we be involved in any pavement ambush?’ Stanley asked.

‘Yes, but I’ll update you on Monday with the state of play and who’ll be doing what.’

There was a buzz of excitement around the room at the thought of arresting armed robbers during the commission of the crime. It was obvious they’d rather be doing that than sitting through another long meeting. Jane doubted if Murphy would let her be involved in the observation or arrests, and resigned herself to being stuck in the office listening to the action on the radio.

‘Anything else anyone wants to raise?’ Murphy asked.

‘Yes, sir,’ Katie piped up. ‘There was the information sheet I gave you about the woman who attended the front counter at Tottenham Police Station last night, which may be relevant.’

‘Thanks for reminding me, Katie.’ He got the form out of his folder. ‘A Miss Emma Wilson told the duty sergeant at Tottenham she was in a local cafe earlier this week and some men were talking about a robbery. It’s information I’d like followed up.’

‘Is that it? Nothing about what the woman heard?’ Kingston asked.

‘The sergeant took the woman’s details and rightly passed it on to us to speak directly to her,’ Katie said.

‘The men we’re after don’t sound like the sort of blokes who’d blab in a public area,’ Baxter remarked.

Murphy said nothing and handed the information report to Jane.

‘I want you to deal with it and determine whether or not it’s connected to our investigation.’

He walked off into his office and closed the door.

Jane rang Tottenham Police Station and was told that the sergeant who’d spoken to Emma Wilson wasn’t on duty until two o’clock. She looked again at the information sheet and was dismayed at the lack of detail. She looked at Miss Wilson’s address on the information sheet but couldn’t find the estate name in the A-Z.

‘You know where the Broadwater Farm estate is?’ she asked Teflon, who was sitting at the desk abutting hers doing some paperwork.

He stopped and looked at her. ‘Why are you interested in the Broadwater?’

‘The woman who went into Tottenham Police Station lives there.’

‘Ring her and ask her to meet you at Tottenham nick.’

‘There’s no phone number on the info sheet, just the address.’

Teflon picked up a paper clip and threw it at Cam to get his attention.

‘Piss off,’ Cam said as the clip bounced off his head.

Teflon gestured with his finger for Cam to join them. Reluctantly he got up and went over to see what he wanted.

‘You OK to get the PC’s statement on your own?’ Teflon asked him.

‘The Guv told us both to do it.’

‘I know, but Tennison needs to visit the Broadwater and was thinking of going on her own.’

Cam looked at Jane, his eyebrows raised.

‘It’s a crime-ridden shithole and the last place on earth where you’d want to be on your own. It’s commonly known as “the Farm” — because it’s full of animals.’

‘Its reputation’s so bad that many people who are offered a council flat on the Broadwater refuse it, and there’s loads of existing tenants queuing up to get moved off,’ Teflon added.

‘I’ll take a portable radio with me,’ Jane said.

Cam shook his head. ‘They don’t work on the landings or inside flats as the concrete’s so thick. Teflon’s right, there’s no way you can go there on your own. Mind you, he’d be putting his neck on the line more than any of us down there if they knew he was Old Bill.’

She looked at Teflon. ‘Why would it be worse for you?’

‘There’s a lot of black criminals on the estate who see me as a traitor for joining the police.’

‘I’m happy to go with Jane,’ Cam said.

‘No, I’ll do it,’ Teflon said firmly.

‘What are you three planning?’ Kingston asked as he approached them.

‘Tennison was thinking of going down the Broadwater Farm on her own.’

‘Then she needs her head tested.’ Kingston looked at Jane. ‘Is it something to do with that action DCI Murphy gave you?’

Jane nodded. ‘Yes, the informant Miss Wilson lives on the estate.’

Kingston shook his head. ‘I was the DI at Tottenham before I came here and believe me it’s rare for anyone on the Broadwater to help the police. We tried to arrest a suspect for stabbing a police officer and they threw a full beer barrel down on the car from one of the walkways. We were lucky it landed on the bonnet and not the roof or it could have killed us.’

‘Did they get the people responsible?’ Jane asked.

‘No, the walkways are like rat runs and they all disappeared, and of course no one saw a thing.’

‘Murphy’s out of order if he knew where he was sending her and didn’t say to take backup,’ Teflon said darkly.

‘He may not have seen the address,’ Kingston suggested, but he didn’t sound convinced.

‘Is it OK if we go with Jane?’ Teflon asked Kingston.

‘I’m ordering you to go with her.’