‘I don’t know, Kate. This is something I shall have to discuss with the Chief Constable. It’s already going out on this month’s Crimewatch. Hopefully someone will have their memory jogged. The man isn’t invisible, he must have been seen.’

‘Well, up till now, sir, he’s done a pretty good job of eluding us.’

‘Leave it with me. Caitlin will be here in about an hour. Make him welcome, won’t you?’

The fact that the Superintendent could not look her in the eye was not lost on Kate.

‘Of course, sir. Now if there’s nothing else?’ When he didn’t answer, she rose from her seat and walked from the room, giving the door a satisfying slam as she closed it. Bloody Caitlin! Bloody hell!

Elaine had a hangover and the shrill ringing of the telephone made her head ache even more. She heard George pick it up.

They did not get many phone calls and any other time she would have rushed out into the hall to see who it was. Today though she just wanted to curl up and die. Her mouth felt as dry as a bone and her eyes were closed against the intrusive light. She wished George would hurry up with her cup of tea.

‘Hello?’ His voice was quiet. Who could be ringing them? The only people to phone were Joseph and Lily, and now and again a friend of Elaine’s from work.

‘Hello? Mr Markham?’ The voice was rough and coarse.

‘Speaking.’ George was bewildered.

‘This is Anthony Jones from Sexplosion in Soho. You asked me to give you a ring like.’

George felt his heart begin to beat a tattoo against his ribs. He dropped his voice.

‘I said I would ring you. How did you get my number?’

He heard the man laugh.

‘You paid by Barclaycard, remember? I got your address from your driving licence - you gave it as further proof of your identity. I got your number from inquiries like. Listen, mate, I wouldn’t drop you in it. If your wife had answered I would have given her a load of old cods. Said I was selling double glazing or something. So calm down, for Gawd’s sake.’

‘What do you want?’

‘What do you think? I’ve got some new films in and they are hot.’

Despite his fear, George felt a tiny shiver of excitement.

‘These are from Thailand, and you know what those chinky birds are like, don’t ya?’ The man chuckled and the action caused him to start coughing. George held the phone away from his ear as the man’s phlegmy voice carried on: ‘This new film makes the last one I sold you look like Noddy and Big Ears in Toytown!’

‘How much?’

‘Three hundred smackers.’