‘The Guv’nor cut the funds down. I’ll give you another five out of my own pocket if it’s worth it.’ He took another note out of his wallet.

Jim sighed. ‘It’ll have to do for now, I suppose.’

He went to take the money and the Colonel pulled it back from his grasp.

‘Info first, my friend.’

Jim sighed, then spoke softly. ‘Rumour ’as it a big Irish UDA guy who recently came over ’ere is involved. ’E’s got a reputation for being a fuckin’ nutter.’

Jane noticed that Jim’s accent had suddenly become proper cockney.

‘Age?’ the Colonel asked.

‘Late twenties, early thirties.’

‘Was his name—?’ Jane began.

The Colonel cut her off abruptly. ‘I’ll ask the questions! What’s your source?’ he asked Jim.

‘Pub talk. The paddy was pissed and gobbing off to a mate about turning over a Securicor van.’

‘What pub was it?’

‘I can’t tell you that, Colonel – if your mob start snoopin’ aroun’ in there, I’m brown bread.’

‘This paddy say anything else?’

‘Only that ’e was managin’ a snooker ’all in North London.’

The Colonel didn’t react to any of the information. He paused, waiting for Jim to say more, then handed him the two five-pound notes.

‘Keep digging, Jim. You find out any more, you know where to reach me.’

‘Make it a twenty next time an’ I’ll see what I can do.’

‘It’s up to the Guv’nor – and keep your nose clean on this one.’

Jim raised his eyebrows and spoke in a posh voice.

‘Good Lord, Colonel . . . Why would an upstanding gentleman like me want to partake in criminal activities?’

‘Because you’re greedy and got sticky fingers.’

Jim shrugged. ‘To each his own, my friend.’

As they walked back up the market the Colonel said nothing.

‘Looks like Jim’s talking about Aidan O’Reilly and the Bruce Grove Snooker Hall.’

The Colonel stopped and looked at Jane.

‘Don’t ever give a snout information like names or they may lead you on. Let them do the talking and never tell them if they’re right or wrong. You run them – it can never be the other way around or they end up tapping you for information.’

‘Sorry, you’re right. I noticed his accent changed during the conversation.’

‘The posh thing is all an act. He used it when he was robbing banks, to fool the victims and police. He started again when he got into the antiques business, where it’s good for selling dodgy gear to naive punters.’

‘He seemed to know his stuff.’

‘Self-taught from books while he did a five stretch in the Scrubs. I’ll see you back at the nick,’ he said as they reached Bethnal Green Road.