‘No, they’re in one building, which was originally a cinema. They converted the downstairs for bingo and the upstairs for snooker.’

‘Why did she think one of the men was connected to the premises?’

‘You can see the building from the cafe and Rachel said she’d seen him coming and going from there when she was in the cafe.’

‘What hours does Rachel work in the sorting office?’

‘Six a.m. to two p.m.’

Jane looked at her watch and saw it was 1.15 p.m.

‘What Rachel lip-read on Monday could be connected to a robbery I’m investigating.’

Emma looked worried. ‘Do you think the men Rachel saw in the cafe are the robbers?’

‘It’s possible, but I can’t be certain until I speak to her in detail about what she was able to lip-read at the time. My car is parked up near the sorting office. If you are agreeable, we could meet Rachel outside and go to Tottenham Police Station, where I can speak to her in private and you could do the sign language for us. Would you be happy to do that?’

Emma nodded but she looked apprehensive. ‘OK . . . if Mr Dobbs will let me go early.’

‘I’m sure he will, and I’ll stick to the verbal abuse and kids throwing food story for now. Do you think Rachel would be willing to make an official statement and attend an identity parade if necessary?’

‘I don’t know. She wasn’t sure about me going to the police. She was worried they would find out who she was and where she works due to her Post Office uniform. That’s why she wouldn’t come into the station with me. I told her they could be planning a robbery and the right thing to do was tell the police. If she hadn’t agreed I wouldn’t have gone to the station, though I think she was actually relieved when no one contacted us.’

‘I can assure you I won’t pressure Rachel into making a statement or doing anything she doesn’t want to. The same goes for you, Emma. But your sister’s evidence could be really important.’

Chapter Fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A light sprinkle of rain started to fall as Jane and Emma walked briskly along Tottenham High Road. Emma was wearing a warm black ankle-length mac and headscarf, and offered Jane her umbrella, but Jane moved closer and suggested they share it. As Emma transferred the umbrella to her left hand, Jane noticed that she had to place it into the palm, as her fingers were curled into a fist and she didn’t seem to be able to move them.