‘I think Murphy’s got another meeting to go to at the Yard, but I’ll let him know you called in and are en route to the office.’

‘Thanks, I’ll be quick as I can.’

‘Did you speak to Emma Wilson?’

‘Yes.’

‘Was there anything connected to the investigation?’

‘She didn’t actually hear the men talking about a robbery, but—’

‘A waste of your time and effort, just like I thought it would be,’ Katie interjected, sounding pleased.

‘Not entirely—’

‘I knew Murphy should have got the local CID to follow it up before allocating the enquiry to you.’

‘To be honest, meeting the Wilsons was a bit surreal, but worth it.’

‘What do you mean?’ Katie asked.

‘I need to get a move on, but I’ll explain everything when I get back . . . Catch you later.’

She put the phone down and was about to leave when she realised there was one more check she should make before going to Wood Green.

She opened the collator’s ‘W’ tray and was pleased there were no criminal record cards for Emma or Rachel Wilson. She also checked the electoral register, which showed them as residing at 68 Tangmere House on the Broadwater Farm estate.

*

Katie went straight to Murphy’s office after the call. He was sitting at his desk reading the newspaper articles about the robbery.

‘Tennison just phoned in,’ she told him.

‘About bloody time! What did she have to say for herself?’

‘Only that the Wilson woman didn’t hear anything in the cafe, and it had been a bit surreal—’

‘Tennison’s the one who’s bloody surreal! Give me anything else that comes in looking like another dead-end enquiry – then I’ll allocate it to her. At least I can mark her card for not phoning in earlier.’

‘Not really, sir. I told her . . . that I told you that she’d called in twice.’

‘Why’d you do that? Now I can’t bollock her!’

‘Because you wanted me to get on side with her. Besides, if you’re not here when she gets back, I can tell her you were mad she didn’t return to the office by 5.30 to update you.’

‘I told her I wanted a result by the end of the day, not a time.’

‘I could have sworn you said by 5.30,’ Katie said with a sly grin.

‘You’ve got a right cunning streak in you, Powell – you’d have made a good detective.’

‘I’ll take that as a compliment, sir. Will you be wanting the team to work over the weekend?’

‘Yes, if it’s necessary, but only eight-hour shifts – with no overtime.’

‘Will you be coming in?’