‘I doubt it, but what Dabs just said makes me feel even more confident that it will happen, and they obviously haven’t a clue we’re watching them,’ he said with a sly grin.

Bax spoke on the radio.

‘All units, all units, Camel Hair Coat Man leaving hall with Targets 1 and 4.’ He turned to Dabs. ‘Quick, get some pics of them.’

Dabs pointed the Nikon zoom lens camera at the targets and pulled the winder back to advance the film and take a picture, but there was no resistance.

‘Shit, I forgot to put a new film in before I went to the snooker hall,’ he said, hurriedly opening the back and removing the film.

‘Hurry up, he’s hailing a taxi.’

‘I’m going as fast as I can.’ He fumbled the new film as he tried to fit it to the winder teeth. ‘Right, I’ve got it.’

‘Too late, he’s gone.’

‘OP1 to Central 888, are you tailing Camel Hair Coat Man?’

‘No, we’re on Targets 1 and 4,’ Kingston replied.

‘Murphy’s going to kill us,’ Dabs said forlornly.

*

Murphy called everyone back to the office after the Ripleys returned home. The atmosphere was highly charged as he spoke about the suspects meeting at the snooker hall and George Ripley strategically placing the snooker balls on the table.

‘How long will it take to get the photos developed at the lab?’ Murphy asked Dabs.

‘There was a slight problem, sir. The shutter jammed when I tried to take a picture of Camel Hair Coat Man. By the time I got it working he’d got in a taxi and left.’

He waited for a rollicking from Murphy.

‘Shit happens. At least you and Bax have seen his face. Pity he didn’t turn up in the Jensen as we might have got an address for him. If you see the car tomorrow, Jane, make sure you clock the registration. And take plenty of film with you,’ he added with a shake of his head.

Murphy looked in his pocket notebook.

‘Colonel and Stanley, I want you to take the OBO van out in the morning and see if you can get some pics of who Ripley’s playing golf with. If it’s too risky then don’t bother. Teflon, you pick up Jane from her flat at 1.30 in the undercover black cab, then take her to the wedding. The rest of you can have the day off.’

‘What about Sunday and Monday?’ Bax asked.

‘Sunday, they’ll all be hung-over from the night before,’ Stanley remarked.

‘And the banks will be closed until Tuesday,’ Cam added, hoping they could have at least one day off.