Talbin rushed across, the camera bag still flapping on his shoulder, and as they struggled for possession of the camera, the bag slipped off and Jez picked it up, tossing it to Peter.

‘Give that camera back to me this minute! It’s theft if you take it.’

‘You can have it once you’re away from this property.’

‘Well, give me the bag then. You’ve got the camera.’

Jez shook his head and repeated, ‘You can get them both back from my front gate.’

He turned to Peter, keeping a careful eye on Talbin. ‘Fancy a coffee, Shane?’

‘Sure.’

‘Come over to my place.’ Jez walked away, deliberately exaggerating the slight limp he still had when he was tired. He waited for Peter to follow him through the gate then closed it. Turning to the other, he whispered, ‘We need to hurry.’ Without any further explanation he set off, running along the grass to muffle his footsteps.

They found Craig in the security control centre. He listened to Jez’s explanation, nodding as Peter was introduced. ‘You shouldn’t have gone out, Jez. That was stupid of you. Anything could have happened.’

‘I’m not hurt. Here, see if you can download the images from this.’

Craig handled the camera with reverence. ‘This is a beauty. Cost a mint, these do. Won’t take me long to download the images. We’ve got state-of-the-art equipment here. Why are you so keen to do this?’

Jez glanced at Peter. ‘I thought if we downloaded his photos we could see what he’s been up to. I don’t want him hurting Sophie again. And our friend here is doing an exposé of Talbin, so he’s interested as well.’ He opened the photographic bag. ‘And I’m just going to check what’s in here.’

He found the usual equipment and then a zipped compartment with carefully labelled memory cards in it. He showed it to Peter. ‘Photographers don’t usually carry old cards around with them, do they?’

‘No. But Talbin’s famous for being paranoid about his photos. He’s a joke in the industry, keeps copies in the bank and who knows where else.’

Tom turned to Craig. ‘Can you copy these as well?’

‘Sure.’

‘Keep the cards in the same order.’

Peter frowned. ‘Let’s hope this is worth the risk. The law won’t approve of what we’re doing.’

‘Damn the law!’ Jez said. ‘I want to nail that sleazebag. I’m fed up of falling over him every time I turn round.’

Talbin went to find his car and drove round to the front of Winter’s house. Someone answered when he pressed the buzzer.

‘What do you want?’

‘I want my camera back. And my bag.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Go and ask your bloody employer, then. He knows about it. He stole my camera and bag. He said I could collect them from you. They should be here by now.’

‘Please wait there.’

‘How can I do anything else?’ Talbin muttered. ‘The place is like Fort Knox.’ He smiled suddenly at what that thought brought to his mind. This place was much more secure than Winter’s old flat, the one where a man had broken in and terrorised the rock star. Pity they’d got it locked up so tightly. It’d make a good story if it happened again. Perhaps that could be arranged once Winter started going out and about more …