Kingston shook his head drunkenly. ‘She don’t know the . . . number for the . . . for the pub . . .’

‘Must be Katie then,’ the Colonel teased.

‘I frigging hope not . . . Shee who it is while you’re ordering the drinks, Stanley, and tell ’em I’m not here.’

Stanley went to the bar.

‘Who’s calling Stewart?’ he asked.

The landlord handed him the phone and said, ‘Bill Murphy.’

After a brief conversation, Stanley quickly came back to the table.

‘Where’s the bloody drinks?’ Kingston asked.

‘It was Murphy . . . He wants us all back in the office right away.’

Bax frowned. ‘Bloody hell, we’ve had three pints each. He’ll go apeshit.’

Kingston laughed. ‘Three, is that all . . . ? Then why do I feel pished?’

‘’Cause you’ve been knocking back the whiskys as well,’ Stanley said.

‘We all booked off duty before going on the piss, so we’re not here in job time,’ the Colonel chipped in.

‘Then let’s have one for the road,’ Kingston said, downing the rest of his beer.

Stanley shook his head. ‘Murphy sounded in a bad mood – I think we should go now.’

‘You’re right. Get a pint of water and two Underbergs for Stu, then help me put him in my car,’ the Colonel said, pulling Kingston up from his chair.

*

Jane was at her desk typing up her report when the Colonel, Teflon, Stanley, Cam and Bax returned from the pub.

‘What’s happening, Jane?’ Stanley asked.

‘I don’t know. Murphy asked me where you all were. He wants an office meeting.’

‘Well, thanks for spoiling our evening by telling him,’ the Colonel moaned.

‘My pleasure.’ She grinned.

‘Has he called everyone in?’

‘Just you lot and Dabs, as far as I know.’

‘It must be something big if he’s brought Dabs in as well,’ Teflon remarked.

‘Has Murphy had a reliable tip-off about the Leytonstone robbery?’ Baxter asked her.

‘Could be.’ She shrugged. ‘He’s in his office making some calls. I guess we’ll find out when he’s finished. Where’s Kingston?’

‘In the ladies’ loo spewing up.’ The Colonel grinned, but Jane didn’t rise to the bait.

Teflon flicked the kettle on. ‘I think we’d better get some coffee down us in case we have to go out nicking people tonight.’

‘Make Kingston’s strong and black,’ Stanley told him.

A pale-looking Kingston staggered in, then put a hand to his mouth, turned around sharply and headed back to the toilet.

Stanley sighed. ‘He’s never been able to hold his drink. I’ll go and see how he is.’

‘If he’s made a mess in the ladies’, make sure you clean it up,’ Jane said.

‘You want a hot drink, Jane?’ Teflon asked.

‘No thanks.’

She pulled her finished report out of the typewriter.

Baxter looked up as Stanley walked back in. ‘How is he?’