‘Two restored classic cars. Little beauties, they were.’ The Super smiled as the doors closed. ‘Apparently being brought in for a private collector up North. Everything was totally kosher, the buyer, the seller, the paperwork, all the real McCoy, but there was one major anomaly. The transport company that was collecting them from the dock didn’t actually exist. Cox’s drivers had nice smart uniforms and two sign-written lorries to transport the cars, but they were as phoney as a painting-by-numbers Rembrandt.’

‘And the drugs?’

The lift sighed to a halt, and the doors opened.

‘In the hand-stitched leather upholstery. All the newly restored seats were stuffed with Charley. It was wrapped in some kind of scented material to throw off the sniffer dogs, but the drugs squad found it.’ Rick Bainbridge yawned and stepped out. ‘We haven’t had time to dig up the details yet, but it looks like a very well-planned scam.’

‘And one worth murdering for.’

‘If you don’t have one ounce of morality or conscience, it’s not even an issue, is it?’ said the superintendent. ‘I just can’t believe the lengths they went to to keep us away from the docks. There must have been easier methods.’

Nikki followed him down the corridor to the custody suite. ‘I think there are a lot more issues here than we know about, sir. Later perhaps, Frankie Doyle and the Fluke Brothers may collectively help us shine some light on them.’

While the superintendent spoke with the sergeant, Nikki kept well back. In any police station, the custody sergeant is king, and every officer knew it. There were so many rules and regulations that even someone of Rick Bainbridge’s rank couldn’t just walk in and have everything their own way, but very quickly the Super turned to her and gave her the thumb’s up sign.

‘He’s gone to check her condition, but I think we are on.’

Nikki sighed with relief. ‘While we wait, sir, can I just tell you that Dave Harris was a star today. If he hadn’t used his initiative and acted quickly when it was necessary, I’m not sure that I’d be standing here with you right now, and I’m damned certain that Joseph would be in the mortuary getting reacquainted with his friend, Professor Wilkinson.’

‘I’m aware of that, Nikki. And he gave us the reg numbers of Cox and Doyle’s cars. When they drove into the docks with their import documents in their sweaty little mits, SO19 knew exactly which vehicles to target.’