He looked out of the window and blew a sigh. ‘Judging by past experiences I would say two or three years.’ He seemed very pleased with his answer. ‘I think you can see my predicament. If I was to give you a partial assessment, and this was quoted out of context it could prejudice—’

‘Let’s cut to the chase. These things are often simple. Could Ozzy have been creaming off money by constructing the new pipes on the cheap?’

Arrowsmith smiled. ‘Well, of course that is certainly something we are looking into. It’s not unknown in the industry. However, Aqua Western has exacting requirements as regards to the audit trail. It’s not as easy as it used to be to take a firm like ours to the cleaners. And can I say that, once again, you are treading a path already well-trodden by Detective Chief Superintendent Anderson.’

‘It’s funny how everybody keeps telling me that.’ Except her. Gillard realised he was spending a lot of time reinventing the wheel. If there was a fraud, he really needed to persuade Anderson to share all the evidence.

Gillard peered out of the window, and spotted a familiar silver Nissan Qashqai parking at the other end of the car park from his Vauxhall. It was too far to read the number plate, but Gillard recognised the big bullet-headed man who emerged from the car.

‘Just excuse me for a minute,’ Gillard said to Arrowsmith. Exiting the office, he ran down the two flights of emergency stairs which brought him out next to the ground floor lift. From there he could hear the receptionist and, just as he hoped, she announced the name of the visitor, who was clearly familiar to her.

‘Hello, Mr Slater. Mr Arrowsmith has someone with him just now, but I’m sure he won’t be too long.’

Gillard lifted his face mask into the correct position and made his way along the corridor into the reception area. He caught a look of surprise on Slater’s face to see him there. ‘Ray Slater, well well,’ Gillard said.

‘How are you doing, Craig?’ he asked, standing and touching elbows with him.

‘Very well, thank you. I knew your face first time I spotted you, but couldn’t place it. Met Police dog handler, twenty-odd years ago if I recall correctly.’

‘That was a long time ago,’ Slater said.

‘When did you leave the force?’

‘Seven or eight years ago.’

‘And you’re in business with your wife, I understand?’ Gillard said.

‘My wife?’

‘RAS Business Services, of which she is a director, right? Ray and Anne Slater. Private detective agency.’

‘I have to earn a humble crust,’ he said, spreading his arms.