Jane started to rock back and forth on her knees as the tears ran down her face.

‘No, no, no . . . What have I done?’

Teflon helped her up and held her as she wept on his shoulder.

Chapter Thirty-Six

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Teflon used the radio to request CID from Stoke Newington, and a lab liaison sergeant, attend Carl’s flat as it was now a murder scene. He then called Murphy and told him what had happened. When he heard Jane was suffering from shock he told Teflon to take her home – or even better, to her parents’ or sister’s so they could look after her.

‘O’Reilly’s dead as well,’ he added.

A uniformed van took Nichols to Leytonstone Police Station, and when the local DI arrived Teflon filled him in.

‘Is she all right?’ the DI asked, looking at Jane.

She was sitting in the car with Carl’s blood on her hands and clothes, looking numb and staring into space.

‘Nichols was going to kill her. It scared the shit out of her, but she’s a tough cookie. She’ll come through it.’

Teflon didn’t want anyone to know the real reason behind her troubled state of mind.

‘Lucky you were there, then,’ the DI remarked.

‘Yeah, I guess so.’

Teflon got in the car and said her name, but she didn’t respond. He gently shook her arm.

‘Jane?’

She slowly turned her head and looked at him.

‘He said it was in the pit.’

‘You have to stop thinking about Carl, Jane. You’re in shock and need someone to look after you. Murphy wants me to take you to your family. Where do your parents live?’

‘I don’t want to go there,’ she said, sounding more coherent.

‘Murphy said—’

‘I don’t care what Murphy said. Carl’s last words were: “It’s in the pit.” If he knew where George and Smudge hid it, then it makes sense it was at their house or the garage.’

‘It could be anywhere, Jane. Murphy is having every suspect’s house and work premises ripped apart by search teams. If the money’s there they’ll find it.’

‘What do you think he meant by “the pit”?’

Teflon shrugged. ‘If he’s a mechanic then it could be the vehicle examination pit in the garage.’

Jane nodded as it suddenly all fell into place.

‘Nichols came here for the garage keys because he knew Carl had a set. He was going to take the money for himself . . . We need to go to George’s garage right away.’

‘Murphy’s in charge of the searches and has the garage under control.’

‘Carl wanted me to find the money.’

‘I’ll go and get the keys from Carl’s flat.’

He shook his head in disbelief at what he was doing.

*