Bax laughed. ‘If it is, the whole squad will be back pounding the beat. Luckily Stanley and the Colonel were watching our four suspects play golf when it went down.’

‘That’s a relief. What happened at the depot?’

‘All I know so far is four tooled-up blokes with dodgy Irish accents forced their way in there, tied up the guards and stole the money from the vault.’

‘How much?’

‘Four or five million, they reckon – in non-traceable notes.’

Jane let out a whistle of surprise. ‘That’s twice as much they got away with in the Great Train Robbery. Is anyone with Murphy?’

‘Just Teflon,’ Bax said.

‘Do you think they’ll need some help?’

‘I wouldn’t bother. It happened on our patch, but Murphy said he’s going to hand the job over to the Tower Bridge team since we’re tucked up with the Ripleys.’

‘I may as well catch up with my paperwork, then.’

Jane went to her desk while Bax did the vehicle check.

‘The Jensen’s registered to Nichols. The address is fourteen Westbury Lane, Buckhurst Hill, which isn’t far from George Ripley’s house.’

*

Murphy and Teflon returned to the office just after midday.

‘Well done on identifying our Camel Hair Coat Man.’

She looked at Teflon, realising he must have said something to Murphy.

‘Could I have a word with you in your office, please, sir?’

‘Yes, if you make me a black coffee first.’

She was putting the coffee powder in a cup when Teflon came over for a quiet word.

‘He asked me what happened at the wedding on the way to the Shoreditch robbery. I told him you’d ID’d Nichols, but I didn’t mention he might have sussed who you are.’

‘I’m now positive he did.’

She poured the hot water in the cup.

‘Shit. Why are you so sure?’

‘Six years ago he was the defence barrister in a murder trial when I gave evidence. He’s changed so much I didn’t recognise him.’

‘Then the Ripleys definitely know we’re on to them.’

Jane nodded, picked up the coffee, and took it into Murphy’s office. He was on the phone, but waved her in and pointed to a seat as he continued the conversation.

‘One of them was dressed as a bloody priest and all the guards said they had Irish accents, which might have been faked. It was clearly well planned and executed, and they had insider information as they clearly knew the guards’ routine. Anyway, I’ve got some statements I’ll fax over to you now, then you can get one of your team to pick up the originals.’

Murphy put the phone down.

‘That was the DCI at Tower Bridge. Tell me all about the wedding, then, and how you got the name of our Camel Hair Coat Man.’