‘We just need to ask a few questions about your car,’ the Colonel said.

He folded his arms. ‘I’ve told you everything there is to know about the Cortina.’

‘Actually, it’s the BMW we’re interested in—’

‘My wife’s out in it with the kids doing the shopping. I can assure you it’s not on false plates or stolen, and it’s insured and MOT’d,’ he said bluntly.

‘We’d like to see the documents,’ Bax said.

‘For Christ’s sake, please have the decency to tell me what’s going on as right now I’m beginning to feel really pissed off!’

Bax looked at the Colonel, who nodded.

‘We’re interested in who you bought the BMW from and how much you paid for it,’ Bax said.

‘An authorised dealer in Essex. It was two years old then and I paid a fair price for it.’

‘We spoke to Paul Lawrence and he told us about your thirty-grand win on the pools. Did you use the money to buy the car?’ the Colonel asked.

‘Sure, and to buy this house – I can show you all the relevant documents to prove everything is legit.’

‘Yes please,’ the Colonel replied.

‘Fine. Give me a moment and I’ll dig them out.’ He left the room.

‘He sounds genuine,’ Bax said.

‘Yeah, looks like Lawrence was right. I’ve a feeling whoever nicked his wife’s car key from her handbag must have seen something with their address on it.’

‘Whoever nicked it must be connected to the blaggers,’ Bax remarked.

‘This is turning out to be a dead end here. I’ll check the paperwork then we’ll be off.’

Braun returned with a blue folder.

‘All the documents for both cars are in here, and this is my bank statement that shows the deposit of the pools money and purchase of the car.’

He handed it to the Colonel, who read out the details of the garage where the BMW was purchased while Bax wrote them in his pocket notebook. The Colonel looked at the MOT for the BMW and noticed the ‘GR Motors Ltd’ inspecting stamp. He looked through the documents and found the MOT for the Cortina, which was also stamped ‘GR Motors’.

‘Is this a local garage?’ He showed Braun the MOT.

‘Yes, it’s in Lordship Lane.’

‘Do they sell cars?’

‘Yes, second-hand ones. They do repairs and servicing as well as MOTs in a garage at the back.’

‘What sort of cars do they sell?’

‘Jags, Mercs, BMWs, Range Rovers – but it wouldn’t surprise me if the mileage was clocked.’

‘Do you know what GR stands for?’

He shrugged. ‘No, I only use the place for MOTs and servicing as it’s a lot cheaper than going to an authorised dealer.’

‘Both MOTs are signed by a G. Smith, who presumably examined the vehicles and passed them as roadworthy. Can you describe him?’