Murphy held a hand up. ‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ll decide if and when any UC work is to be done in the cafe, Tennison. For now, just ask the owner to put anything they’ve touched to one side after he clears their table.’

Jane was upset but didn’t show it.

‘I was going to visit Abby Jones at her home address and get a statement from her. She’s the seventeen-year-old who witnessed the area car being shot at.’

Murphy looked apprehensive. ‘Right now, I’d rather not put an unreliable teenager through the trauma of being a witness to an armed robbery. Let’s see how the next couple of days pan out and I’ll reconsider you visiting her.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Jane said, understanding his concern.

‘Anything else?’ No one said anything. ‘Then I suggest you all head off home and get some sleep.’ He closed his pocket notebook.

‘We got much left in the whip, Sarge?’ Bax asked Stanley.

‘Enough for another round at least.’

‘Guv, you fancy a quick pint before last orders?’

Murphy shrugged. ‘Go on then, but no talking shop – you never know who’s listening . . . or lip-reading,’ he added with a smile.

‘Anyone else up for it?’ Stanley asked, and only Kingston declined.

‘I’ll give it a miss, thanks, my stomach’s still a bit dicky.’

‘Hair of the dog might help,’ Jane suggested, wondering if he was trying to avoid being in her company.

‘Go on then.’ He smiled.

*

Back in the pub, all the tensions and disagreements about the investigation quickly evaporated – even the mystery of Katie’s disappearance seemed to have been forgotten – as they got on with the serious business of drinking and taking the piss out of each other. It was only Murphy laying down the law, insisting the next round was going to be the last, that put a stop to the fun, knowing he didn’t want them hung-over or stinking of booze when they were out making enquiries and dealing with the public the next morning.

Stanley nudged Jane with his shoulder.

‘I thought I told you to chill out and settle in gently,’ he said with a grin.

‘And I told you I didn’t need your advice and could make my own decisions.’ She gave him a nudge back.

‘You’re like a dog with a bone when you get your teeth into an investigation.’

‘I’m not sure I like that comparison.’

‘No offence – you used to be a soft poodle, but now you’re like a Rottweiler.’

‘Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.’

He looked around, then whispered, ‘Seriously, though, you’ve done some solid work today. We all thought Murphy was sending you out on a dead-end enquiry, but you turned up trumps and the rest of the team’s dead impressed.’