‘For Christ’s sake, it’s four o’clock.’

‘I know, but this is really important.’

He let out a deep sigh. ‘Go on then.’

‘You remember years ago when I was a decoy and arrested that rapist Peter Allard?’

‘Yeah, he got off the rape but pleaded guilty to assaulting you.’

‘That’s right, then we nicked him for the murder of Susie Luna.’

‘I’m not really in the mood for war stories—’

‘Was his barrister a guy called Tony Nichols?’

‘Let me think . . . Yeah, he was Queen’s Counsel, but got disbarred about three years ago for false legal aid claims.’

‘Do you know what he’s doing now?’

‘I haven’t a clue.’

‘Thanks. Sorry to bother you.’

‘Wait a minute . . . What frying pan have you got yourself into now?’

‘It’s a long story, but Nichols is tied up with the Ripleys and our other suspects.’

‘Did you get the message I left for you yesterday afternoon?’

‘No, I was at a wedding.’

‘The RUC got a match on the Chubb key to a Patrick O’Dwyer. He’s got a criminal record for violence and was in the same UDA unit as Aidan O’Reilly. Looks like you were right about Fiona Simpson’s death being linked to your investigation.’

‘I’ll let Murphy know. Thanks again, Paul.’

She put the phone down.

Jane thought about why she had failed to recognise Tony Nichols. She had only seen him once before the wedding, when he had cross-examined her for half an hour at the Old Bailey. Although it was six years ago, she now remembered he was chubby-faced, had greying dark hair with a side parting, and wore thick-rimmed gold glasses. Since then he had undoubtedly lost weight, dyed his hair black and, she assumed, replaced his glasses with contact lenses. It didn’t seem to her to be a deliberate effort to disguise himself, more the act of a vain man who wanted to look younger.

*

Jane arrived at the office just after 9 a.m. Bax was the only one there, working at a desk catching up on his reports.

‘How was the wedding?’

‘A right den of thieves. I saw the Jensen – a disbarred barrister called Anthony Nichols owns it.’

‘Makes sense.’

‘I’ve got the registration for the Jensen. Can you do an owner check, please?’ She gave him the details. ‘Is Murphy in yet?’

‘He was, but he got called out. There was an armed robbery at the Security Express depot in Shoreditch yesterday morning. The security guards were tied up and no one found them until this morning.’

‘I didn’t hear anything on the radio about it.’

‘That’s because the press haven’t been informed yet.’

‘What? Does Murphy think it’s the Ripleys?’ Jane asked with alarm.