‘Michael De Voe. I can confirm “no criminal record” – and that’s all I can tell you about him. I hoped to have been able to prepare a file for you, but there’s nothing.’ Ridley handed Jack a map of the Chelsea Emporium. ‘This indoor space houses thirty-four high-end shops and eateries. De Voe’s Jewellers is on the second floor. Shop number twenty-one. His other shop was out Camden way, but has recently closed down. I don’t have a picture of De Voe for you: there’s no social media, no local-interest news pieces on him – he keeps below the radar. Not what you’d expect for a man who’s just been accused of masterminding the biggest burglary racket this side of the Pennines. Or maybe it’s exactly what we should expect? Did you know that the total insurance claims from the Cotswolds burglaries over three years is estimated to be £7.6 million?’

‘But I think a murder means they have to wrap up and get out,’ Jack said. ‘One more big score. If we miss them at the annual equestrian event, that’s it. They’ll disappear forever.’

Ridley nodded. ‘So, what’s your plan for getting on the inside of De Voe’s world?’ Ridley looked Jack up and down. He was wearing the boots he’d bought for wandering through muddy farmyards out in the Cotswolds, along with jeans and T-shirt.

Jack grinned. ‘I’ll look the part, sir, don’t worry.’

*

That afternoon, Jack sat down to a full chicken dinner, with five different vegetables, gravy and bread sauce. Even though Maggie was the one who served it up, he knew this meal was Penny’s creation, as he believed no one else on the planet still knew how to make bread sauce from scratch. Penny sat with them to eat and then took Hannah out for a walk.

‘So . . .’ Maggie knew her husband inside out. ‘. . . are you playing nicely out in the country?’

‘Well, I met the Oxford Robbery DIs. One’s arrogant, the other’s a prick and, so far, they’re both guilty of culpable manslaughter. But, apart from that, yeah, it’s going well.’ Maggie refilled Jack’s empty wine glass. She then made a gentle observation about Jack always having had problems with those above him. She reminded him of how he once described Ridley as an anally retentive jobsworth, who couldn’t exist outside of the bureaucracy of law and order. Now, he was their daughter’s godfather!