‘Just thought I’d ring my favourite sister and see how her first day on the famous Flying Squad went.’

‘I’m your only sister, and it was a pretty uneventful day, to be honest.’

She knew Pam would take great delight in passing on to her parents all the gory details of the bank robbery if she told her about it, and her mother would then become distraught about her safety, so she decided to play it down.

‘So, you had nothing to do with that bank robbery in Leytonstone on the evening news?’

‘No, it’s not on our patch,’ Jane lied.

‘You fibber, Jane. I looked in an A-Z to see where you worked, and Rigg Approach is about three miles from where the robbery took place.’

‘I didn’t get to go out to it as it was my first day. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to finish my supper—’

‘I know better than a judge when you’re telling porkies, Jane.’ Pam laughed. ‘I promise I won’t tell Mum if you got shot at.’

‘It’s no laughing matter, Pam. An officer was shot in the stomach and two others were nearly killed when their car crashed after being shot at.’

Pam’s voice became more serious. ‘I knew you were involved. Was it scary?’

‘I got there after everything had happened. I’m involved in the investigation, that’s all – but don’t go saying anything to Mum and Dad.’

‘I won’t. So what happened?’

‘I’m really tired, Pam. I want to have a bath and go to bed—’

‘Oh, come on, don’t leave me in suspense!’

Jane sighed. ‘What are you doing this Saturday?’

‘In case you’d forgotten I’ve got an eighteen-month-old toddler, aka your nephew, to look after.’

‘How is Nathan?’

‘Fine. He’s just started walking and causing mayhem in the house. Actually, you could come over here tomorrow night with a bottle of wine and sleep over.’

‘I don’t think Tony would want me there. I doubt he’s forgiven me yet for telling him he should help a bit more and at least try to change Nathan’s dirty nappies.’

‘I agree with you, but you know how stubborn Tony can be. He’s going up the West End to a stag do tomorrow night. I told him I don’t want him coming home shit-faced and waking Nathan up, so he’s staying at a friend’s house and I’ll be on my own. We could have a good natter, put the world to rights and keep each other company like we used to when we lived at home,’ Pam suggested.