‘I know that, Jane. You’ve sailed a little close to the wind at times, but from what I’ve heard you’re as honest as the day is long – and the first woman ever to be on the illustrious Flying Squad.’

She didn’t like his patronising manner.

‘Have you been following me?’

‘Only today – and not me personally.’

She realised he must have put a surveillance team on her.

‘You could have blown my cover and put me in danger.’

‘We’re not that reckless. It’s some of your colleagues you should be more worried about.’

‘Like who?’ she asked, immediately thinking of Kingston.

He opened the rear nearside door and Jane got in. Bartlett turned his body to face her.

‘An underworld “supergrass” has claimed that members of the Flying Squad are receiving large sums of money for warning criminals of imminent arrests and police raids, and for dropping robbery charges. We also know that evidence is being fabricated by participating informants and their controlling officers so the reward money can be shared.’

Jane suddenly found herself thinking of the Colonel and the meeting with Gentleman Jim. She also knew that he and Kingston were close.

‘I still don’t see what this has got to do with me.’

‘Do you suspect anyone on your team of corruption?’ the DI asked.

Although Jane had her suspicions about Kingston and the Colonel, she wasn’t about to risk her career by making unsubstantiated allegations without knowing who Bartlett suspected.

‘I’ve only been on the squad since last Thursday, and to be honest, as a woman I haven’t been made very welcome. The rest of the team aren’t very open with me. It would help if you could give me some names.’

‘Our source said he’d heard it was one or two members of your team but wasn’t able to give us any names, but we’re confident he will,’ Bartlett said.

Jane wondered if they thought she was naive, and were just fishing for any sort of information that they could use to their advantage.

‘If I had evidence that an officer on the squad was corrupt, I can assure you I’d do something about it.’

‘That’s why we wanted to speak to you. Do you have any suspects in your current robbery investigation?’

‘You know I’m not obliged to tell you anything about our investigations.’

‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ the DI said with a wry smile.

Jane didn’t like his attitude.

‘You can take it however you like . . . sir. Unless there’s anything else you’d like to ask me, I’ve got work to do.’

Bartlett sighed. ‘We don’t like what we do, Jane, but it’s vital to stamp out corruption in the Met. Here’s my card. It would be to your advantage to contact me if you suspect anyone on your team of corruption.’