He blew a sigh. ‘A woman of demanding standards. Much like her mother, from what we’ve heard.’

The press conference at Surrey Police headquarters was hasty and hectic, squeezed into a spare meeting room, the floor strewn with loose cables, with barely enough space for the larger than expected number of TV journalists. Gillard and press officer, Christina McCafferty, had little information to give and struggled to rein in the wilder speculative questions. They sensed the frustration of the journalists at what even Gillard himself felt were repetitive responses. There was criticism too of the artist’s impression of the cyclist, which seemed nothing more than a figure in a hooded coat, loose trousers and trainers.

‘Joe Public is hardly going to be impressed with that,’ said one scruffy and bearded tabloid reporter. ‘Looks like a scarecrow drawn by a nine-year-old.’

‘It’s the idea I want to plant in people’s minds,’ Gillard replied. ‘If anyone cycles regularly through Ashtead Common, especially early in the morning, we would like to hear from them. We’ve already had many responses on the dedicated information line.’

It was gone nine o’clock by the time the last media stragglers had left. Gillard felt sorry for Christina’s new assistant, Stef, having to clear up the mess while her boss handled further press calls, so he pitched in folding and stacking tables and chairs. Just as they were finishing, Christina walked back into the room and offered Gillard her phone. ‘It’s Owen Cathcart, city editor at the Telegraph. Says he’s got a tip for you.’

Gillard picked up the phone and introduced himself.

‘It’s not a share tip,’ Cathcart said, ‘but a bit of a steer. You may not have been aware, but quite a few companies have tried to buy Empire of Spice over the years. Mrs Roy, God bless her, has always refused to sell up, which has according to my information been a source of friction within the family.’

‘Anything recent that you’re aware of?’

‘Well, funny you should say that. My information is that the chief financial officer of Global Foods Inc. of Milwaukee met Mrs Roy just last week at the Dorchester Hotel.’

‘Is that significant?’

‘Well, maybe. The fact it was the CFO might indicate that they were discussing the details of a deal. That’s speculation on my part. We don’t know what was said, although it was a long lunch according to my sources. But anyway, I just thought I would toss that bit of cardamom into the biryani, so to speak.’ He laughed. ‘Of course the other person you must speak to is Johnny Lam of Hong Kong & International Cuisine. He’s got 15 per cent of EoS, and would dearly love to buy the rest.’

‘Tell me more.’

‘Lam is the consummate opportunist. He’s been after this company for probably two decades. He is a pretty safe pair of hands.’

‘Does he always get what he wants?’

Cathcart laughed. ‘Pretty much, yes. He’s very single-minded. Brutal, even. I bet you a pound to a penny he’ll be in contact with the Roy family with an offer for the firm.’