‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal. I can come back a bit later if you like,’ Jane offered.

Rita patted the sofa. ‘No, we’ve nearly finished – and there’s some ham left if you’d like a sandwich.’

‘I’m fine, thanks.’

Jane sat on the sofa, opened the house-to-house folder and got out the form.

‘Do you think the two men I saw were involved in the robbery?’

Rita handed her plate to her husband, who used his fork to push what was left onto his plate.

‘We don’t know for certain yet, but it’s possible. Your husband just mentioned you saw something else of interest.’

She nodded. ‘When I spoke to the sergeant, he told me about the armed robbery in Leytonstone and that a possible getaway car had been set alight in one of the garages, which I didn’t know about at the time I saw the two men in Blake Hall Road.’

Jane instantly realised the significance of the timing between her seeing the two men and the fire.

‘Did you see or smell any smoke when you returned to your flat after your shopping trip?’

‘No, not a thing, until I heard the fire engines. I went outside, and the firemen were putting out the garage fire. I asked a PC who was with them what was happening, and he advised it was best I return to my flat as inhaling the smoke wouldn’t be good for me.’

‘How long after you got home was it you heard the fire engines?’

‘A matter of minutes, but it wasn’t until I was discussing what happened with my husband that I remembered about the other two men I saw. Being a former Royal Parks Keeper, he went over everything with me in detail and he thinks these men might be involved as well.’

‘I was going to phone the station after tea, but now you’re here you can hear it from the horse’s mouth . . . so to speak.’

Peter put his food tray on the floor next to his armchair. Spud jumped up and started licking up the scraps of food. Jane knew there were four men who robbed the bank, but there was a strong possibility that after dumping the car they’d split up. She got out her pocket notebook and pen.

‘Can you tell me about these other two men, please? Firstly when and where you saw them.’

‘Well, I’d just got back to the flat and put the shopping in the kitchen when Spud started scratching at the door, so I knew he was bursting for a tinkle. I took him out on the lawn at the front of the flats. He was lifting his leg when I heard something behind me. I turned around and saw two men walking and talking quietly together.’