‘How did you get this number?’
‘I called the station and they put me through to the incident room. That lovely Mr Bradfield answered the phone and said you’d been in an oboe van all day and had gone off duty. What were you doing in a van?’
Jane felt embarrassed wondering what Bradfield must have made of the call. ‘It’s an obo van, Mum, short for “observation”. And they don’t appreciate personal calls to the station or here.’
‘Are you coming home for Sunday lunch?’
‘I’m not sure if I’m clear this weekend as I’m still on attachment to the CID.’
‘Well, surely you’re allowed a weekend off? Pam will be here – they had a terrible time in the Lake District. It poured with rain and that MGB broke down so they had to hire another car.’
‘Oh I’m sorry. Uncle Brian should cover their costs.’
‘Well, they weren’t paying for the car – turns out it was his wedding present to them. But he had to get a truck to go and pick it up – the rear suspension thingy went.’
‘Mum, I’m going to have to go as I’ve got a lot of studying to do for CTC.’
‘Will you try and come for lunch on Sunday? We miss you.’
‘I miss you too, and I’ll let you know. Is Dad OK?’
‘Oh he’s fine. He worries about you, and we haven’t seen you for so long.’
‘It’s only been a few days, Mum, and I’ve been really busy.’
‘What have you been doing?’
Jane sighed. There was no way she could go into any kind of description of what she’d been involved in, and was thankful when the ‘pip, pip, pip’ started.
‘Got to go now – I’ll call about lunch.’
‘Bye bye, and make sure you do or I’ll have to phone you again.’
The call was cut off and as Jane replaced the receiver she felt a tap on her shoulder.
‘Hi! It’s me, Sarah Redhead. Can I borrow some 10ps from you? I’m totally out of change and have to call my brother urgently.’
Jane gave her five 10ps and eight 2ps from her purse.
‘Thanks, June, probably won’t need all this and I’ll pay you back as soon as. Maybe have a drink in the pub later?’
‘Yes, maybe,’ Jane replied, but had no intention of going.
She looked at her watch: it was 8 p.m., and last orders in the canteen were at half past seven. She was so tired she couldn’t even be bothered to pop out to get a takeaway and replacing her purse in her bag saw the bar of chocolate she’d purchased when following Renee Bentley. Opening it she broke off a large chunk and began to eat it as she got the lift to the women’s floor. What had started out as a positive day had now become a worrying one. She knew that if she was wrong about John Bentley there could be repercussions for Bradfield. It mattered to Jane that she was right. Not just for her sake but Bradfield’s as well as she realized how much she cared for him.
Gibbs got into ‘plod’ mode; he was almost in step as he walked side by side with the much taller and wider Harris. They were heading along Great Eastern Street just before 8 p.m. and the area was quiet with few pedestrians or vehicles.
‘Can’t wait to hear what Silas has to say for himself,’ Gibbs said.
‘Do you know what he looks like as there may be a few bubbles in there,’ Harris asked as they reached the café. Spencer smiled, knowing ‘bubble and squeak’ was Cockney rhyming slang for ‘Greek’. He said he had a full description of Silas from Mannie Charles and shaded his eyes to peer into the darkened café between the posters.
‘There’s a light on at the back so somebody‘s probably in,’ he remarked, and banged on the door.
It was a minute or two before the interior light came on. Silas slowly inched open the door. He’d seen them from an upstairs window and his heart was pounding.
‘Yes, officers, how can I help you? You wanna a tea or coffee perhaps?’
‘No thanks. Can we come in, Mr…?’ Gibbs started to ask and deliberately paused to let him answer.
‘Manatos, Silas Manatos,’ he replied nervously as he stepped back to let them through.
Gibbs noticed the serving counter was covered in dust yet the coffee machine was clean, as were the cups and saucers stacked beside it.
‘How’s business?’ he asked.
‘Not so good ever since council tore down the old housing across road to build that multistorey car park. I lose much trade, but I get by and have some regulars still, early morning, but afternoons quiet.’
Spencer nodded and jerked his hand towards the door.
‘Saw the refurbishing notice on the window – you hoping a new look might help bring a few more punters in?’
‘I was gonna make area to eat downstairs, then open evenings as well to serve nice real Greek meze food. I start work and someone tell council. They tell me stop, cos I have no right to do dat even though I lease the place.’
‘Sorry to hear that,’ Gibbs said.
‘The builder I hire to do work not happy. I say stop and he keep pesterin’ me for money for all materials he bought. I think he is, how you say, cowboy, right?’
Harris stood looking around, and then removed his helmet. ‘You live here, Mr Manatos?’
‘Yes, upstairs.’
‘Alone?’
