‘OK,’ said DI Hitchens. ‘Examination of the shed at Ringham Edge Farm by ourselves and the RSPCA confirms the suspicion that it was being used for dog-fighting. We know that Jenny Weston saw what was going on there. She passed by there one evening when she had been late on the moor. She reported her information to the RSPCA, and she claimed to have photographic evidence. Whether she went any further than that, we don’t know. Whether Daniels did the same, we don’t know either. However, with the help of the RSPCA special investigations unit, we have drawn up a list of known or suspected participants in the dog-fighting ring. There are some pretty unsavoury characters among them, and one or two are known to us.’

‘Is one of them Keith Teasdale?’ said Cooper.

‘Yes, his name is on the list. Today is Operation Muzzle. We’re going to make some arrests.’

When Ben Cooper walked back into the CID room, DS Dave Rennie was there, looking relaxed, like a man at home in front of the TV watching Coronation Street. He should have had his slippers on. Cooper saw that there was a stack of paper on Rennie’s desk, forms filled with scrawled handwriting in ballpoint pen. Some of the writing looked almost illiterate.

‘What’s all that lot, Sarge? Witness statements?’

‘Questionnaires,’ said Rennie. ‘I’ve got all these back already from the early and day shifts. I’ve just collected them from the box in the canteen.’

‘Oh, the vending machines.’ Cooper picked up a couple of sheets. ‘What sort of things are they saying, then?’

‘I haven’t looked at them yet. But I dare say they’ll go for it, generally. We gave them a multiple choice, look – hot food, sandwiches, snacks or drinks. All they had to do was choose which they’d use. It makes it look as though the vending machines are a foregone conclusion, but actually we’re using their responses as evidence to push the idea through. Clever, isn’t it?’

Cooper’s eyes widened as he read one of the questionnaires. ‘Amazing.’

Rennie nodded. ‘It’s surprising what management will come up with.’

‘Sarge, the person who filled in this questionnaire here says they’d like hot food, but hot women would be even better.’

Rennie sniffed. ‘Well, you know what it’s like, Ben. There are always some who have to take the piss, no matter what.’

‘And under “other suggestions” they’ve asked for condom machines and somewhere to dispose of their used hypodermic needles.’

‘I might have to take one or two out before I show them to the DCI in Admin,’ said Rennie.

‘Who wrote this one, then?’

‘They’re all anonymous, Ben.’

‘Is that wise?’

‘You know as well as I do, if people have to give their names, you don’t get anything from them. Coppers are dead suspicious of putting their names to something that looks official.’