‘I don’t think so,’ Iris said.

‘You need to be sure, because you might need to change the locks.’

‘That’s expensive,’ Josh said.

‘Yes, but it’s a worthwhile precaution. In many muggings the purse and any distinguishing objects get tossed into a garden somewhere. I’m going to ask the local PCSOs to knock on the doors of the street down which they ran away to see if anything has been handed in.’

‘Thank you so much,’ Iris said.

‘Were you given a leaflet about criminal injuries compensation?’

She shook her head. ‘The young policeman who came to see me was in a hurry. He didn’t even finish his biscuit, and I’ve never seen him in the canteen.’

‘Right,’ said Gillard. ‘Josh can look it up online for you, it would certainly be enough money to pay for new locks and compensate you for any loss of earnings. Here is my mobile number. Just let me know how it’s going. Really hope to see you back at work and in fine fettle in the next few days.’

‘Oh darling, you are so kind,’ Iris said. ‘Come on, give me a kiss. I can’t stand to say goodbye.’

Back at the station, Gillard looked again at the raw e-fit images on file of Iris’ assailants. He then checked to see if the credit cards that had been stolen from Iris had been used. He was surprised to see no mention on the case of such enquiry having been made before. The case was listed as part of Colin Hodges’ workload, but he hadn’t logged into it at all. The bank took only two hours to forward the details of where the cards been used. The biggest bills were for the download of computer games, and had been made from a pay-as-you-go mobile. Gillard asked Rob Townsend to look up the network, and see if they could get a location.

Gillard looked around the office to see if he could see Colin Hodges, who he knew was on weekend duty. He found him staring at his phone as if transfixed, writing down figures on a pad.

‘Colin,’ he said, putting his hand on the shoulder.

Hodges gave a start. ‘Christ, boss, you almost gave me a heart attack.’

Gillard could still see the screen of Hodges’ phone. ‘Nosh2U shares, eh? Having a dabble, are we?’

Hodges shrugged. ‘I’ve got a few, yeah.’ He sounded defensive.

‘It’s Saturday. The stock market is shut.’

‘I’m looking at the New York closing price. It rose again in after-hours trading.’

‘Are you making money?’

‘Yeah, it’s been quite tasty.’ He actually rubbed his hands together.

‘Sorry to drag you back to the real world, Colin, but you haven’t done anything about the Iris McQueen case.’

Hodges’ piggy eyes narrowed, and he stroked his straggly ginger beard. ‘Remind me.’

‘The mugging at the bus stop in Staines last week. You haven’t even checked up to see where her bank cards were used.’

‘The clear-up rate on these kind of cases is not high,’ Hodges said, still seemingly baffled as to why Gillard should be showing an interest in this case when they were all working hard on Mrs Roy’s murder case.