Christina was the next to arrive, just before two. Unusual for the bride to turn up before the groom, but then this was an unusual wedding. She was dressed in a smart turquoise suit, silk scarf and matching long coat, more of a ‘going-away’ outfit than a bridal dress. Not that she was planning to go anywhere with her husband.

Miles was running a few minutes late, despite his chauffeur keeping the needle nearer eighty than seventy mph while they were on the motorway. He took exit 13 and headed for Limpton.

‘Don’t look back, boss, but I think we’re being followed.’

‘What makes you say that, Eddie?’

‘A taxi I spotted on the motorway came off at the same exit as us, and I don’t think he’s one of your guests.’

‘Is there another route you can take to the church?’

‘Yes, but it will take far longer, especially if we get held up at the railway crossing.’

‘Take it. That way we’ll find out if he’s following us.’

At the next crossroads, Eddie turned right, and a few moments later the taxi once again appeared in his rear-view mirror.

‘He’s still with us. What do you want me to do?’

‘Keep going for a while, I think,’ said Miles. The lorry in front of them slowed down as the barriers were lowered at the railway crossing.

‘We got our timing wrong, boss,’ said Eddie.

‘I think we may have got our timing just right. What I want you to do …’

• • •

‘Do you think they’ve spotted us?’ said William as the taxi joined a short queue waiting for the train to leave the station and the barrier to rise.

‘Possible, sir,’ said Danny. ‘A taxi’s always a bit conspicuous on a motorway and having to do eighty didn’t help.’

‘Perhaps we should have used an unmarked squad car for this particular job, and not a taxi.’

‘Why don’t we arrest him while he can’t get away?’

‘No, we’ll stick to the plan, while he’s still driving straight into a trap.’

‘He’s on the move!’ shouted Danny as the passenger door of the Mercedes shot open. ‘He’s heading for the station.’

‘Dump the car, then follow me,’ said William, as he threw open the back door, jumped out and ran towards the station. By the time Danny had manoeuvred the taxi onto the grass verge his boss was already charging across the pedestrian bridge. William raced down the steps on the far side of the track and leapt through the only door of the train that was still open just as it began to move off.

He yanked down the window and shouted to Danny, who had just reached the platform, ‘I want a dozen officers waiting for me at the next station. And call DI Hogan to let him know the groom won’t be turning up.’

• • •

‘He’s going to be late for his own wedding,’ said Christina, checking her watch once again.