Ron watched his old friend disintegrate before his eyes, and he put a brotherly arm about his shoulders to try and comfort him.

‘Stan has lived in this town all his life,’ he said to John White. ‘He returned from the First War where we fought together in the trenches, and took over the post of stationmaster from his father. His military record is exemplary, and he was awarded a Military Cross for bravery under fire. His reputation in Cliffehaven is of the highest standing, for he’s an upright, honest man with a strong sense of duty. He suffered a heart attack last year, and something like this could easily bring on another.’

Ron paused to let all this information sink in. ‘Stan is an innocent man and doesn’t deserve to be punished, but if this gets out, he will lose not only his home and the job he loves, but his reputation. I’m asking you – no – begging you to find a way to shield him from it.’

John White looked at Stan with something approaching pity before he turned to Bert Williams. ‘You know Mr Dawkins better than I do,’ he said. ‘What is your advice?’

Bert chewed his lip, clearly distressed by the whole distasteful business. ‘Everything Ron said is the truth,’ he said eventually. ‘And I wholeheartedly agree that Stan should not be punished for his wife’s actions. To that end, I will conduct a discreet search of the cottage without the presence of other officers, and make arrangements for both women to be transferred to another district to stand trial.’

He looked up at John White. ‘What happens to Stan will depend on how many people saw you and the constable bringing the pair of them in. This town thrives on gossip, and something like this will be common knowledge by lunchtime.

‘As far as I’m aware there were no witnesses. It was between shifts and too early for most people to be out and about. The Grayson woman lives alone in a caravan parked off Briar Lane, and because of the hour I asked the constable to refrain from ringing the bell on the police van in case it disturbed the residents – of whom there was no sight.’

John White took a deep breath. ‘I can see what a shock this all is to Mr Dawkins, and I’m sorry to have caused him such distress. But it’s my duty to stamp out theft on the estate, and I had no option but to carry out that duty when it became blatantly obvious what was going on.’

‘I hope your constables will keep this to themselves, Bert,’ said Ron.