‘No comment.’

O’Connor bent down and picked up a second evidence bag, this one containing a black ski mask. ‘You were wearing this mask when you broke out of the warehouse,’ he said.

‘No comment.’

‘And you were wearing the overalls belonging to the employee of the pest-control company you were impersonating. All of which leaves us in no doubt that you were a member of the gang who broke into the warehouse, assaulted the employees and later shot a policeman.’

‘No comment.’

‘Refusing to answer our questions isn’t going to get you anywhere,’ said O’Connor.

Macdonald shrugged.

‘The lad’s right,’ said Kelly. ‘This isn’t me playing good cop, bad cop either. You’re not on file but all that means is that you haven’t been caught before. You’re a pro, that’s as obvious as the wart on my arse. But just because it’s a first offence doesn’t mean you won’t go down for a long time. If the Crown Prosecution Service goes for attempted murder plus kidnapping you could get life.’

Macdonald shrugged again.

‘But if you throw in your lot with us, we could persuade the CPS to drop your case to attempted robbery. A few months behind bars. You might even get probation if you can come up with a few character witnesses and an invalid mother.’

‘No comment,’ said Macdonald.

Kelly leaned forward and placed his hands on the table, palms down, fingers splayed. ‘This is a once-only offer,’ he said.

‘I can’t help you,’ said Macdonald.

‘If you can’t, there’s others that will,’ said Kelly. ‘You know Conrad Wilkinson? Of course you do. He was wearing the same outfit as you.’

Macdonald said nothing.

‘Young Conrad’s scared shitless about going back to Brixton. Seems he left a debt behind when he got early release. Plus his record is minor – car theft and demanding money with menaces. It’s all we can do to shut him up. Trouble is, he doesn’t know anything.’

Macdonald remained silent.

‘Now Jeff Owen, he does know what time it is. All sorts of bells went off when we ran his prints through NAFIS. Owen wants to do a deal, but as he was the one splashing petrol about, the CPS isn’t happy about cutting him any slack. So I’m going to ask you one last time. Do you want to help us with our enquiries, or shall we get ready to throw away the key?’

Macdonald stared sullenly at the detective. Kelly stood up. ‘This interview is over,’ he said.

O’Connor read the time off his wristwatch, then switched off the recorder. He took out the two cassettes, signed his name on them, and fixed seals over them. ‘One of these is for you if you want it,’ he said to Macdonald.

‘No need,’ said Macdonald.

Kelly threw open the door to the interview room and walked out. ‘He’s all yours,’ he said, to the female sergeant. O’Connor hurried after the detective inspector.