‘And if you refuse? Then they’ll really show an interest.’

Birch bites his lip.

‘Yeah, I suppose you’re right.’

‘Don’t sweat it, Brian. Cross that bridge when you come to it. Maybe they won’t ask. Meantime, just stick with the script.’

‘Right. But what if—’

He doesn’t get to finish his sentence. The man he’s calling has hung up.

Naylor has a policy always to accept coffee if it’s offered. People speak more freely when they’re occupied with filling kettles and finding milk. But Sheila Birch disappointed, and hadn’t even thought to make the offer. Now Naylor’s thirsty, and she could eat something, too.

It’s in her mind to pay a visit to Brian Birch’s employers, Petersen’s, thinking she’ll get confirmation of Birch’s work for them in Hartlepool. She’s not expecting to learn anything which will be a great help, but she’s been trained by Ron Perdue, and graduated from his No Stone Unturned school of thinking. As a member of the public who’s had his car nicked, Brian Birch may be an unlikely stone, but he still needs turning over. For completeness’s sake, she might as well do it while she’s here.

She Googles Petersen’s and gets an address from their website, then keys it into the satnav. She’s a ten-minute drive away, depending on traffic. A couple of streets from the Birches’ house, there’s a row of shops with a boutique café in the middle. Naylor finds a place to park and dials the number Sheila Birch has given her.

The call is answered promptly.

‘Hello?’

‘Is that Mr Birch, Brian Birch?’

‘That’s me.’

‘This is DI Rachel Naylor, from Thames Valley Police. I was just speaking to your wife regarding the theft of your vehicle, a red 09-plate Ford Focus.’

‘Oh yes?’

‘We’ve recovered the vehicle, Mr Birch, but as I explained to your wife, unfortunately we can’t return it to you as it’s been involved in a crime. I’ve just got a couple of questions to put to you, if you don’t mind, regarding the actual loss of the vehicle.’

‘Ask away.’

‘Can you confirm where it was taken from? Our information says Hartlepool, is that correct?’

‘Yes.’

‘And you were there on business, is that right?’

‘Yes.’

‘And what were the circumstances of the theft, exactly?’

‘I left it parked at the roadside. When I came back, it wasn’t there.’

A thought occurs to Naylor.

‘So how did you proceed, Mr Birch? How did you get home or to your office, wherever you were going?’

There’s noise on the line, the sound in the background of an indicator flashing.

‘I’m sorry, it’s a bad line,’ says Birch. ‘Can you repeat the question?’

‘I asked what you used for transport when you found the car was gone.’

‘I called a taxi.’