Renee went back to the estate, and as Jane returned to the surveillance van she saw Stanley and approached him.
‘What’s happening? Are you following someone?’
‘No, but if I was you’d probably have just blown my cover by carrying your police bag.’
‘I’m sorry, I forgot what we were doing,’ an embarrassed Jane replied.
‘Think of it as a lesson learned. We’ve been relieved for the day, two other officers have taken over for the next shift. Sorry, but I left your cheese sandwich and drink in the van.’
Jane smiled. ‘It’s OK, I’m not hungry.’
‘How’d the tail on Renee Bentley go?’
‘Nothing unusual. She just did a bit of shopping,’ Jane replied, but inwardly she was puzzled by what she had overheard. She wondered if there was any connection regarding the £5 notes and the request for a travel magazine for Florida.
Having got the bus back to the station Jane was finishing typing up her surveillance report when Kath walked in.
‘Well, there’s nothing going on at any of the surveillance points. Chief Super’s just been in and according to Gibbs he gave Bradfield a real pastin’ about the cost of the operation. Between you and me, cos I saw the TSB vault, there is a big possibility we’ve been focusing on the wrong effing bank.’
‘But it doesn’t make sense. It is right next to a café’ – she gestured to the pinned-up mug shots – ‘and the Bentleys are obviously up to something.’
‘Bradfield’s got a couple of guys checking out other banks and jewellers’ in close proximity to cafés, but it might not even be connected to the Bentleys. The taped calls could be coming from God knows who or where.’
Jane sighed. ‘I’m sure it was John Bentley’s voice.’ But in reality she was now beginning to doubt herself.
‘Well, I believe you, but don’t get your knickers in a twist about it. As it is we can nick him for ringing a van with false plates, no insurance and probably a forged tax disc.’
‘But we don’t even know where he keeps the van yet, and they’re just minor offences really.’
‘All part of the game, Jane – you win some, you lose some.’
Jane sighed and went back to typing her report as Kath leaned over her shoulder to read it.
‘That’s interesting – Ma Bentley enquiring about illegal fivers and travel to the States. I wouldn’t mind getting some sun in Florida, but chance’d be a fine thing.’
Jane was about to add that travel to the US was expensive and not something she thought any of the Bentleys could afford, when suddenly Kath burst out laughing.
DS Gibbs was there in full uniform, his police helmet under his arm.
‘Evenin’ all,’ Kath said, squatting down then standing up with her hands behind her back. Jane wondered if he had been sent back to uniform due to the O’Duncie assault incident.
Gibbs shook his finger. ‘Haw haw, very funny, Morgan. Bradfield wants me to visit Silas’s café dressed like a plod on the pretext that Mannie Charles’ shop got broken into and I’m makin’ local enquiries. This bloody helmet’s too small,’ he said, and put it on.
Kath laughed again. ‘You might get a free moussaka and sticky cake, Spence. Do you want someone to go with you? Cos my uniform’s downstairs.’
‘Bradfield’s already lined up Sergeant “Happy” Harris to go with me. You two completed your reports yet?’ he asked, and they both said yes.
He told them to book off duty and turned to leave the room causing the helmet to fall from his head. ‘Bloody thing.’ As he bent down to pick it up Kath goosed him and he shot up.
‘Very funny, Morgan, keep yer hands to yourself.’
‘You should tell some of the blokes at the station to do the same. I’ve been touched up more times than you’ve had hot dinners.’
Returning to the section house Jane was eager to have a bath after being hunched up for hours in the stinking surveillance van. She hadn’t seen Bradfield at the station and was concerned about his dressing down by the Chief. She also wondered how she was going to react when she saw him after what had occurred between them. Just thinking about it made her smile.
As she passed the sergeant’s office she noticed the door was open. He got up and approached her with a stern look on his face. She was beginning to wonder if he and Sergeant Harris came from the same mould.
‘Your mother has rung three times this afternoon. She’s upset you haven’t made contact to let her know how you’ve settled in. I was in two minds whether to tell her about your indiscretion on the men’s floor-’
‘You didn’t, did you?’ Jane asked.
‘No, she sounded worried enough as it was. Neither I nor the wardens are an answer service. We only take urgent family calls to residents, so kindly inform your mother of the rules,’ he said, returning to his office and closing the door.
Deciding she’d better call home straightaway, Jane went to the payphone at the end of the corridor opposite the lifts. She dialled her parents’ number and hearing the answer beeps pushed in a few 2p coins.
‘About time, Jane – Daddy and I have been worried sick. We appreciate you must be busy but you promised to call and you haven’t, so we’ve been really anxious.’
