‘I was a decoy for a serial rapist. He attacked me, but I still managed to arrest him. And I was a waitress in my school holidays, so I know how to act the part.’

He rubbed his chin. ‘It’s risky, and I can’t make that decision, Jane. I’d need to run it by Murphy first.’

‘Thanks for your support, Stewart.’

‘Keep up the good work and Murphy will have to change his mind about you.’ He looked at his watch. ‘You fancy discussing this further over a quick drink in the pub?’

‘I would, but I’ve still got to write up today’s report.’

‘Do it over the weekend, you’ve had a busy day and deserve a drink.’

‘All right, but just a quick one.’

‘We use the Prince of Wales – it’s just down the road by the river. I’ll drive if you want.’

‘I’ll take my car, then I can head off home from there as it’s en route. What about Katie?’

‘What’s she done now?’ He sighed.

‘Nothing, I just wondered if she’d like to join us.’

‘Have you told her what you told me?’

‘Not everything. She only knows that Rachel Wilson is deaf and lip-read what was said – plus I gave her a couple of the names to do PNC checks on.’

Kingston ran his finger around the collar of his shirt.

‘It’s not that I don’t trust Katie, but she can be a bit of a rumour-monger. I’m worried that if we discuss the case in front of her, she might say something to Murphy. It’s probably best to tell her that you’re going home . . . and I’ll do the same.’

‘I don’t like to be underhand. We could discuss it now and then ask Katie if she’d like to join us.’

Kingston looked a little annoyed. ‘What else is there you need to tell me?’

‘Rachel said the man Tommy wore a pendant round his neck with gold boxing gloves on it. As you were a boxer, I wondered if that type of thing was an award of some sort?’

‘I doubt it. Usually you get a cup or a championship winner’s belt. I’ve seen boxing glove pendants, but it doesn’t actually mean he’s a boxer.’

‘I was just thinking, maybe if I speak to Nick over the weekend, and he’s agreeable to me working as a waitress, then I could start Monday morning—’

‘There’s no rush, Jane. If Murphy approves it on Monday, we could start the surveillance on Tuesday.’

‘Rachel said she’s only ever seen M1 and M2 in the cafe together on a Monday or Friday. Why waste three days on an observation when we could identify them in one? We could put a surveillance team on them, get some good photographs and maybe ID their associates.’