‘No, he had a black mask on as well, but he was shorter than the man who shot at the police car.’

‘An officer in the crashed police car was on the radio at the time the shotgun was fired, and I heard the bang on our radio. It must have been terrifying for you to be in the middle of it all,’ Jane said to console Abby.

‘It was, but I don’t think the man in the balaclava fired his gun.’

‘Are you sure?’

Jane wondered if Abby was so frightened she’d become confused about what had happened.

‘I didn’t see him until after the police car crashed – so he must have got out of the car after that happened.’

‘What did the man with the shotgun do?’

‘He followed behind the man with the small gun, who was walking towards the crashed police car with the gun raised towards the policemen.’

‘Then what happened?’

‘The smaller man held his bigger gun towards the big man’s back. I think he said something as the mouth hole on his mask moved, but I couldn’t hear what it was . . . Then they got in the car and it drove off.’

‘What do you think made the loud bang you heard?’

Abby shrugged and put Daniel in the pram.

‘I don’t know . . . Can I go now?’

‘I’ll need to speak to you again to take a more detailed statement, which you’ll need to sign. Can you give me your home phone number, please, then I can call you to arrange an appointment time?’

Abby looked apprehensive. ‘Will I have to go to court and give evidence.’

‘Possibly, if we catch the men responsible for the robbery.’

‘No, I’m sorry, no way, I’m not giving evidence against people like that. My life and Daniel’s would never be safe.’

‘There’s ways we can protect you and make sure your details are not revealed. I’ll come and see you tomorrow, but in the meantime would you like me to get someone to contact your parents?’

‘No, I need to take Daniel to the doctor’s now.’

‘Are you sure you’ll be all right on your own?’

‘Yeah . . . I hope those two policemen that were in the police car are all right.’

‘I’m sure they will be, Abby. You can call me at work any time if you want to talk.’

Abby frowned. ‘I won’t change my mind about making a statement.’

‘If you did, would you contact me if I give you my office number?’

‘I’ll think about it,’ she replied with a big sigh.

Jane was about to write it down on a bit of paper when she realised she didn’t know her new office number.

‘Can you hang on a minute and I’ll just get the number from one of my colleagues . . . ?’