Boon was satisfied that Dermot’s account of events corroborated Lee’s version, and was about to go back to the Portakabin when they heard the sound of a vehicle. Boon turned to see a red minivan driving towards them.

‘Here comes the thieving bastard now,’ Dermot said.

The van suddenly stopped, then started to reverse back down the driveway.

‘Are you not going to chase after him?’ Dermot asked, surprised at Boon’s calmness.

Boon removed the radio from his pocket. ‘Papa Romeo five receiving, over.’

‘Yeah, go ahead,’ his colleague in the Hillman Hunter replied.

‘Block the red minivan that’s attempting to leave the building site.’

‘Received, Boony, we already got eyeballs on him.’

Boon ran to the Portakabin to tell Jane.

Barry saw the Hillman approaching in his rear-view mirror and hit the brakes hard, stalling the engine. Pulling up behind him, the two crime squad officers jumped out of the police car. Barry locked the door and tried to start the engine. One of the officers tapped the driver’s side window with his truncheon.

‘Get out of the car or I’ll break the bloody window!’

‘All right, all right!’ Barry shouted.

He flung the door open, hitting one of the officers and knocking him off balance. The other officer dragged Barry out of the car, forced him face down on the muddy ground and handcuffed him. Both officers then lifted him up by his arms and escorted him up the dirt path to where Jane and Boon were waiting.

‘Barry May, I’m DC Boon. I’m arresting you on suspicion of theft. You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so, but what you say may be given in evidence.’

‘I want to make a complaint about these two assaulting me!’ Barry growled.

‘You were resisting arrest and they restrained you,’ Jane said calmly.

‘Did you open the coffin and take a cross from the nun’s body?’ Boon asked.

‘What! No way. Dermot said he wanted to open the coffin, so you best fuck off and ask him.’

‘You really are a piece of shit,’ Boon said, shaking his head. He put Barry in the back of the Hillman and then got in next to him.

‘Where you taking me?’ Barry asked.

‘To search your premises.’

Barry grunted. ‘Where’s your fucking warrant, then?’

‘We don’t need one as we’ve arrested you on reasonable suspicion of theft,’ Boon told him.

Jane found a toolbox in the back of the minivan and removed a small crowbar. She knew Lloyd could do some tests to see if it matched the indentations on the coffin. She then followed the Hillman to Crundale Tower in her car.

‘Is your wife or any other family at home?’ Boon asked Barry.

‘My wife will have gone to work by now.’

‘Any kids?’

‘Yeah, two girls. Katie drops them off at her mother’s and she takes them to school.’