‘No, il cucinare is my job – you just take and serve the orders.’

Nick spent the next half hour going over the menu, then showed Jane how the till worked and where everything was kept.

‘Any problem you just ask me, but from what I see so far you are very good.’

*

Everyone on the surveillance team was maintaining radio silence as they waited for the suspects to appear. It was 8.30 a.m. when the CROPS officer’s voice was heard over the radio.

‘All units from OP2, Target 1 has left premises in gold Mercedes 450SL convertible, index X-ray, Papa, Echo 264 Sierra. Vehicle has turned left towards junction with Abridge Road.’

‘OP1 from Central five two, we have eyeball on Target 1 vehicle and ready to follow,’ the detective said.

There was another period of radio silence, until one of the CO11 officers watching Aidan O’Reilly’s flat piped up.

‘All units from OP5, Target 3 has left premises and waiting at bus stop on north side of the road. Officers on foot have eyeball and are following.’

It wasn’t long before Stanley, in an OBO van at Chingford, came on the air.

‘Target 2 in red Mini, X-ray, Lima, Oscar 67 Romeo, being driven by IC1 female. Now in Hatch Lane heading towards roundabout.’

‘Central solo six four has eyeball,’ the plain clothes motorcycle officer said as he started to follow the Mini.

‘LJ to Gold, receiving, over?’ Teflon said.

‘Go ahead, LJ,’ Cam replied.

‘IC1 male matching Target 4’s description opening garage at premises opposite OP4. His vehicle is a dark blue Mark 3 Capri Ghia, index Victor, Hotel, Kilo 499 Tango.’

He started to take some photographs with a zoom lens camera. Cam did a vehicle check on the PNC as he listened.

‘Vehicle’s shown as registered to Target 4,’ he told Teflon.

Murphy was standing next to Cam.

‘Good, all our main targets are on the move. Looks like Maria Fernandez is driving Tommy Ripley to work.’

‘The Mini is registered to her at Tommy’s Hatch Lane address. Jane said a witness at Edgar House saw a man matching George Ripley’s description driving a gold Mercedes,’ Cam reminded him.

Murphy picked up the radio. ‘All units from Gold . . . Female driving mini will be Target 7.’ He turned to Cam. ‘Let’s hope the Ripley brothers are going to the Bluebird.’

*

Nearly half an hour passed before Bax spoke on the radio and Dabs started taking photographs.

‘All units from OP1, the Mini has parked around the back of the snooker hall and Targets 2, 3 and 7 have just gone in . . . Stand by . . .’ He paused as the gold Mercedes drove around the back of the hall. ‘Target 1 has just turned up and driven into the car park.’ He waited, then watched as George Ripley appeared. ‘All units, Target 1 has entered hall.’

As soon as Bax had finished, Teflon had an update from OP4 regarding the suspect Carl.