‘Any other names you’d like to run a check on?’

‘I’m interested in an Aidan O’Reilly. I haven’t a clue about his age or description, but I’d guess he’s anywhere between thirty to fifty and may live on Seven Sisters Road.’

Jane could hear the collator typing the details on the keyboard.

‘There’s over sixty on here from all over the country. I can print them out and put them in a dispatch envelope to be delivered to you.’

‘It’s OK, I can get our clerk to do it when I return to the office later. You have anything on the card index for a Maria Fernandez?’

‘Let’s see . . . No, nothing on her.’

Jane thanked him for his assistance and decided to contact Wood Green Police Station. She was told by the control room officer that the collator had gone off duty. She asked the officer if he could check the name Aidan O’Reilly and 94A Seven Sisters Road against the collator’s cards and electoral register.

‘I would if I could, Sarge, but the other radio operator has gone for refreshments and it’s really busy here just now.’

‘Is Wood Green nick far from Tottenham?’ Jane asked.

‘About three miles.’

‘What street is it on?’

She opened the A-Z at the back pages streets index.

‘It’s in the High Road opposite Earlham Grove.’

‘Thanks, I’ll call in on my way back to the office.’

She put the phone down, looked at her watch and was surprised to see it was nearly five o’clock.

‘Shit!’

She’d forgotten to call the office and give an update of her whereabouts, which would definitely please Murphy, as it would give him something else to have a go at her about. She looked in the back of her pocket notebook for the office number, picked up the phone and hurriedly dialled it.

She recognised Katie’s voice. ‘Hi, it’s Jane Tennison. Has Murphy been asking where I am?’

‘Yes, a couple of times, but I’ve covered for you and said you’d rung in.’

‘What did you tell him?’

‘I said you’d been to the Broadwater Farm estate and were making further enquiries at the Tottenham Co-op to trace Emma Wilson.’

‘That’s right – did you speak to Teflon?’

‘Yes, he rang in and told me what happened at Broadwater Farm – which meant I didn’t have to make anything up about where you were going next,’ she said smugly.

‘You didn’t need to lie for me, Katie.’

‘We cover each other’s backs on the Flying Squad, Jane.’

‘Thanks . . . I owe you one. I’m at Tottenham nick and just need to pop over to Wood Green, then I should be back at Rigg just before six.’