He thinks for a moment and then shakes his head. ‘No.’

‘Did you talk to the men at all? Even to say good morning?’ asks Quinn.

‘I didn’t,’ he replies, indignantly. ‘I was working.’

‘Did you hear them speak?’

‘Ah yes. I did.’

‘What did they say?’

‘I do not know.’

‘Did they mention a name, perhaps?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘Mr Novak, it’s important you think hard about what you heard. Even the smallest of details can help,’ says Archer.

Novak thinks for a moment; his face scrunches. ‘I think they were Polish.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘I’m not sure. I don’t speak Polish.’

Archer hears Quinn sighing. ‘How do you know they were talking Polish, then?’ he asks.

‘Something . . . one of them said to the other.’

‘You just said you couldn’t speak Polish.’

He raises his hands and shrugs. ‘OK, I know a few words. One of the men called the other dupek . . .’ Novak turns to Archer. ‘Please excuse my language. It means asshole. I know that. When I was young man I was with a beautiful Polish girl and she would call me that all the time. She was very pretty . . .’

‘These men, Mr Novak. What time did they leave Trafalgar Square?’

‘I really not be sure. I left to do my job. Why don’t you ask the police officer?’

‘What police officer?’ asks Archer.

‘The one who arrived and spoke to them.’

‘What did he look like?’ asks Quinn.

‘It was dark. I couldn’t see. He looked like police. He had uniform.’

‘What time did this policeman arrive?’

‘I don’t remember for sure. After the men, is all.’

‘Did the policeman ask about the cabinets?’

‘How would I know?’

‘Was there any indication the delivery men and the policeman discussed the cabinets?’

‘It’s possible, but I couldn’t hear them.’ Novak scratches his chin. ‘There was laughing. Yes. I heard someone laugh.’

‘OK, Mr Novak. Is there anything else you can think of that might help us?’ asks Archer.

Novak scrunches his face and after a moment replies, ‘No, that is everything. Please may I go?’

‘I’m afraid we’ll need a bit more of your time,’ says Archer. She turns to Quinn. ‘I knew the man in the broken cabinet. I met him at The Connection two years back. His girlfriend, Sharon, was just here. We need to talk to her.’ Archer looks around for Sharon Collins and sees Eula leading her into The Connection.

Quinn nods his understanding. ‘Coombs,’ calls Quinn, looking toward one of the officers. The uniform hurries across. ‘Whizz Mr Novak and Mr Manly to Charing Cross in your nice police car and take their statements.’

‘Yes, sir.’