‘My colleagues and I are going to search your premises from top to bottom.’

‘How many times do I have to tell you, I didn’t open that coffin or steal any bleeding cross, so you won’t find nothing.’

Boon shrugged. ‘Have it your way.’

Arriving at Crundale Tower, Boon got out and went over to speak to Jane.

‘I think he might have got rid of the cross . . . maybe pawned it or sold it to someone. If we don’t find it, we’ll have to release him.’

‘We might find a pawn ticket – or even the missing knife,’ Jane said hopefully.

‘I haven’t mentioned the knife to Barry. I thought if we find a crucifix, he might roll over and tell us what else he took from the coffin. The search could take an hour or two; me and the crime squad lads can do it if you want to head off to your meeting.’

She looked at her watch, it was a quarter past eight. ‘I’ve still got a plenty of time. I’ll stay for an hour then drive to Orpington.’

Boon used Barry’s key to gain entry to the flat. Jane told the crime squad officers to search the bedrooms and made Barry sit in an armchair in the living room.

Jane looked around the room. ‘We’ll start in here, then do the kitchen. Make sure you look inside the cushions, as well as down the sides of the—’

‘I know how to do a proper search, sarge,’ Boon interrupted.

The high-pitched sound of a woman’s screams suddenly filled the flat.

‘Stay with Barry,’ Jane told Boon and hurried to the main bedroom.

A buxom, dark-haired woman in her late twenties was sitting up in bed tightly clutching a white bed sheet under her chin. She looked terrified, her eyes wide open and her body shaking.

‘Please don’t hurt me?’ she pleaded, close to tears.

‘It’s all right, love, no one’s going to hurt you . . . we’re police officers not burglars,’ the crime squad officer informed her, holding up his warrant card. ‘Are you Barry May’s missus?’

She still looked worried. ‘Yes, has something happened to him?’

Jane stepped between the officers and the woman. ‘There’s no need to be alarmed, Mrs May. Your husband is fine and here with us.’ Jane waved to Boon to bring Barry to the bedroom.

‘What’s going on, Barry?’ his wife asked, seeing the handcuffs.

‘These idiots think I nicked some jewellery and want to search the house for it. I’ve told them they’re wasting their time,’ he said.

‘No work today?’ Jane asked Mrs May.

‘I swapped shifts with a friend.’

‘Are the children in their bedroom?’

‘No, they’re with my mother. I dropped them off earlier and came back to bed for a bit of peace and quiet.’