‘The shooting was a year ago. You don’t seem to have made a lot of progress.’

‘Sadly, that is not unusual in this type of investigation.’ ‘Well, could you keep us updated?’

‘I’ll fax you any relevant information if we have new developments. Would that be suitable?’

‘Yes, excellent.’

Kotsev paused. She thought she heard him drinking, and imagined a cup of decent coffee in his hand. Did they have good coffee in Bulgaria? Just the idea of it was making her mouth dry.

‘And what about you, Sergeant Fry?’ he said. ‘What is your situation?’

‘One of my colleagues is following up a possible lead to Nikolov. In fact, he’s on his way to the address right now. And we’ve identified some associates of Nikolov’s living in the area. Two brothers by the name of Zhivko.’

Sergeant Kotsev seemed to choke over his coffee. ‘Zhivko? Anton and Lazar?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is one of them disabled? In a wheelchair?’

‘I believe so.’

‘You should arrest them immediately.’

Surprised by the sudden urgency in his tone, Fry raised her eyebrows at her colleagues in the office, the way they all did when they had someone strange on the phone.

‘They don’t appear to have committed any crimes here, Sergeant,’ she said. ‘But we’ve got them under surveillance.’

‘They’re dangerous people. And so are their associates. Anton Zhivko was almost killed in an assassination attempt by a rival gang. That was why they left the country.’

‘We’re aware of that. But they seem to be running a legitimate business so far.’

‘That is a joke.’

‘No.’

‘The Zhivkos are desperate men. In fear of their lives, and therefore dangerous.’

‘I’ll mention your concerns to my senior officers.’

There was silence at the other end of the phone for a moment. The line to Pleven was so good that she could hear Kotsev breathing, and even the faint buzz of background conversation, and a door closing somewhere.

‘If you would like for someone to travel to England, it can be arranged,’ he said.

‘Why?’

‘To assist in your investigation. We very much wish to help. Co-operation with our European colleagues is encouraged at the highest level.’

‘Well, I don’t think that will be necessary for now, but I’ll pass on your offer.’

‘It’s been a pleasure to liaise with you, Sergeant Fry. I hope we’ll speak again soon.’

‘Goodbye, then.’

‘Ciao.’

Fry put the phone down. Ciao. Was that a Bulgarian word?

Then she noticed Murfin making frantic gestures at her with his phone.

‘What is it, Gavin?’

‘I’ve got that waitress on the phone – the one from Matlock Bath, who came in to do the photofits. I think you’d better speak to her.’

‘OK, put her on.’

Murfin transferred the call, and Fry picked up.

‘Good morning, Miss Rawson. I understand you have some new information for us. What is it? Have you remembered something?’