‘The longer you leave it, the longer you are not available for interview, the harder my job becomes. And that means it becomes harder for me to represent you effectively.’

‘I know all that, and I’m sorry. But did you ring me up to tell me off again, or was there something else that you need to tell me about?’

‘You asked me to call.’

‘Did I?’

‘Yesterday you asked me about a car registration number. A Range Rover you saw at the park.’

A surge of adrenalin made me sit up straight.

‘Did you trace the owner?’

‘Remember what I said to you earlier, about information I’m not supposed to have access to?’

Please let it be good news, just for once. Just for a change.

‘Yes?’

‘This falls into the same category, so don’t ask where it comes from.’

‘OK, I understand. But did you find the driver of the Range Rover?’

‘Yes and no.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘The vehicle is owned by a company, not a person.’

‘Like a shell company?’

‘No. Enterprise Rent-A-Car.’

‘You’re saying it’s a rental?’

‘So it would seem. Although it’s conceivable the plates had been switched.’

‘Can you find out who it’s rented by?’

‘A PNC check – that’s the Police National Computer – only provides ownership information. We’re not going to get client detail like that without a proper police investigation of the rental records.’

‘Do you think Naylor could be persuaded?’

‘On the basis of a random sighting in a car park? Not a hope in hell.’

‘It wasn’t random. They were clearly following Beth, looking for her husband.’

‘Still, there’s not a hope of persuading Naylor without something more concrete.’

‘There’s something going on with this Alex Kolnik guy. He’s been to Ben’s house. He’s harassing Ben’s wife. That’s his car and he’s up to something, I’m just not sure what yet. Have you asked Naylor about him?’

‘Sure. Can do.’ He didn’t sound enthusiastic.

‘And can your source get the info about who’s rented this car?’

‘No. And I’m not going to tell you the reasons why, so don’t go there.’

I sat back again, deflated.

‘The Range Rover is basically a bust, then.’

‘It seems so.’

‘You know Naylor turned up at my house earlier?’ I said. ‘And his partner and two in uniform.’

‘I did warn you the time was coming, today or tomorrow. There’s no running away from this, Joe, you’ve got to stand and face it, head-on. Deal with it.’

‘I’m not running away.’

‘You’re doing the exact opposite of what I advised earlier today when we met at the wine bar. Go in voluntarily, show willing, take the initiative away from the police.’

‘Spend the next six months on remand for a crime that hasn’t even happened?’

‘That’s a very pessimistic view.’