‘By which time,’ Gilchrist interrupted again, ‘there was plenty of evidence against them.’

Fox nodded and turned his attention back to Inglis. ‘What do you want PSU to do?’

‘Normally we would let London do the work, but this one’s local, so…’ She paused, fixing her gaze on Fox. ‘We want you to paint us a picture. We want to know more about Jamie Breck.’

Fox glanced at the image on the screen. ‘And it couldn’t be a mistake?’ When he turned his attention back to Annie Inglis, she was giving a shrug.

‘Chief Inspector McEwan tells us you’ve just busted Glen Heaton. Breck works in the same station.’

‘So?’

‘So you can talk to him.’

‘About Heaton?’

‘You make it look as though it’s about Heaton. Then you tell us what you think.’

Fox shook his head. ‘I’m not a well-liked man around those parts. I doubt Breck would give me the time of day. But if he’s dirty…’

‘Yes?’

‘We can look into it.’

‘Surveillance?’

‘If necessary.’ He had her attention now, and even Gilchrist had stopped what he’d been doing. ‘We can look at what he gets up to on his computer. We can scrutinise his personal life.’ Fox paused, rubbing at his forehead. ‘The credit card’s all you’ve got?’

‘For now.’

‘What’s to stop him saying someone else must’ve used it?’

‘That’s why we need more.’ Inglis had swivelled in her chair so that her knees were a millimetre from his. She leaned forward, elbows resting on her thighs, hands clasped. ‘But he can’t suspect anything. If he does, he warns all the others. We’ll lose them.’

‘And the kids,’ Fox added quietly.

‘What?’

‘It’s all about the kids, right? Child protection?’

‘Right,’ Gilchrist said.

‘Right,’ Annie Inglis echoed.

Fox was a few steps short of the Complaints office when he stopped. He’d put his jacket back on, and was running his fingers down the lapels, just for something to do.