Bax nodded. ‘The traffic officer’s conclusion also supports that theory.’

Teflon looked at Jane, who nodded.

‘Jane and I got some stuff that ties in with what the Colonel just said re GR. Nick, the cafe owner, said M1 is George and M2’s called Tommy and they’re brothers. He also said Tommy was the new owner of the snooker club, who we know, thanks to Jane, is Thomas Anthony Ripley.’

‘That’s good information, but we need some documentary evidence to prove GR Motors is owned by or connected to George Ripley. Have you run a PNC check on him?’ Murphy asked.

‘Yes, sir, and I got a few hits. I was going to print them off and go through them after the meeting. We also got some information about a Graham Smith from an estate agent’s in Wanstead,’ Teflon said.

‘I don’t recall authorising any enquiries at an estate agent’s . . .’ Murphy frowned.

Jane interjected. ‘It was my idea to go there and make enquiries about the previous owner of forty Edgar House. I thought I’d mentioned it at the last meeting, but obviously I didn’t,’ she said, knowing that she’d informed Kingston and he’d told her to visit the estate agent’s.

Murphy sighed. ‘OK, tell us about Graham Smith.’

‘He bought flat forty for his mother Elizabeth about a year ago and paid just over ten thousand pounds cash—’

‘That’s a lot of dosh,’ Stanley remarked.

Jane continued, ‘Then he inherited it when she died, and sold it through the Wanstead estate agent’s for a tidy profit. Garage twenty-nine was owned by Mrs Smith, who, as far as I’m aware, didn’t have a car, though she may have rented the garage out – or her son Graham could have used it and kept a key when he sold the flat.’

‘That’s all very interesting, Tennison, but Smith is not exactly an uncommon name, and you don’t have any firm connections between the Colonel’s G. Smith and yours.’

‘I think she does, sir . . .’

Everyone looked over at Cam.

‘Sergeant Tennison asked me to check out a phone number with the PO – it turned out to be registered to GR Motors Ltd in Lordship Lane.’

‘Bloody hell, this gets better and better!’ Baxter exclaimed.

‘The estate agent had it as a contact number for Graham Smith when he was selling the Edgar House property,’ Teflon added.

‘Another thing you forgot to mention to me, Tennison,’ Murphy growled.

‘She didn’t know – I forgot to give her the result when she got back to the office,’ Cam explained.

She gave him a subtle nod of thanks and made sure the bit of paper with the phone number details was still in her pocket.

‘Any description of your Mr Smith, Tennison?’ Murphy asked.

‘Not yet, sir.’

‘Make it a priority to get as much as you can on him.’