‘How long have you been here?’ he asked.
‘Nearly three hours.’
‘I’d say punishment enough.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘Time spent in this dilapidated stink-hole van is punishment. And in case you’re wondering, fuck all has happened at any of the observation points and it’s looking like we got the wrong bank.’
‘You make it sound as if it’s my fault.’
‘We wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t put John Bentley in the frame. Ashley Brennan’s heard nothing further on his poxy radio, and we have nothing suspicious occurring at Silas’s café.’
‘Maybe Bentley realized he was being tailed and called it off.’
‘Even if he hadn’t they’d need a fucking atomic bomb to blast open the bank vault. According to the pompous prat of a bank manager it is completely impenetrable with a massive concrete and steel base and James Bond shutters to lock in any intruder.’
She stared out from the peephole, trying hard not to show how distressed she was that he appeared to be blaming her.
‘I only met him once, but I still believe it was John Bentley’s voice on the tape. If you want me to change my mind, or suggest it has been my fault then—’
‘Fault?’ he snapped, interrupting her. ‘I’m here because I don’t want you to take any flack. If we have the wrong bank then that’s down to me, but we both know something is going down and I have a gut feeling—’
‘That I’m right?’
‘Not about that — my gut tells me that we’re close but time is running out, and if they are planning to rob a bank we may have screwed up because we’ve concentrated on Silas’s café.’
Jane turned to face him, watching as he sighed, rubbed his hair and shrugged his shoulders.
‘You must be exhausted,’ she said.
‘Yeah, but I just wanted you to know that you might have to stand up for yourself when the Chief Super gets the update. They always want someone to blame and this has cost more than a few quid getting in all the extra officers — but the reality is it’s down to me, and my decision. You acted in good faith, I’ve acted on impulse.’
She turned back to the peephole, trying to think of the right thing to say.
‘When Stanley gets back tell him to give it until 6 p.m. and get another team to take over from you.’
He moved along the bench so he was behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. It was not in any way premeditated, but she felt her body lean back against him. He gently moved his hand to stroke her hair.
‘You’ve got a lovely-shaped head.’
She laughed, turned and looked at him. ‘Thank you.’
‘What’s so funny?’
‘Well, you sort of pay the oddest compliments and sometimes I am not sure how to take them. You said I have nice teeth, but you always seem to be critical of me, snapping that elastic band for me to tie my hair back, “Take your hat off”, “Put it back on”, you confuse me.’
‘Ah well, all you need to know is that...’ He hesitated.
‘Know what?’
‘That I have wanted to do this.’ He tilted her chin up, leaned forward and kissed her. It was such a sweet, gentle kiss and Jane was completely taken aback.
‘So now you know that my compliments were heartfelt. I have no notion how you feel, and I may be making a total arse of myself, so you don’t have to say anything.’
She wanted to put her arms around him. She had an overwhelming desire to hold him tightly and tilt her head up for him to kiss her again, but she felt nervous. So she covered her embarrassment by peering through her peephole pressing her flushed face against the cold sides of the van.
‘Wait — Renee Bentley is coming out of her flat.’
Bradfield leaned closer to her and Jane moved her head to one side so that he could look.
‘She’s a wily old lady, and reared a nasty son of a bitch in John, never mind being married to one as well. But I doubt she’s going to be handling a sledgehammer and helping break into a bank.’
Her face almost touched his as she suggested that she should get out and follow.
‘You can do, but keep your distance as she might recognize you. I’ll wait for Stanley to return.’
Jane snatched her coat, grabbed her bag and Bradfield eased open the van doors to let her out. As she stepped out into the fresh air she had to catch her breath. She felt nervous and her heart was pounding. She could hardly believe what had just happened. She calmed herself down but couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
Chapter twenty-five
Renee walked slowly as she made her way along Chatsworth Road, which was lined with shops and market stalls displaying a colourful array of fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and cakes. The sound of traders shouting out the price of their wares in Cockney accents filled the busy street. Jane was able to follow Renee at a safe distance and used some stall-browsing as cover whenever Renee stopped to look at something. Eventually Renee went into an Indian shop. Hesitant, Jane looked through the window from the street. She could see Renee walking between tall aisles of tinned food towards the post office counter at the far end of the shop. Jane decided to go in, and seeing the stack of baskets by the door she picked one up. She moved quickly to stand behind one of the shelves and was able to watch Renee from a round convex mirror placed high in the corner of the shop. Working behind the post office grille was an Indian man wearing a black turban. Renee waited while he served another woman. Jane moved a bit closer.
‘Good afternoon, Mrs Bentley,’ the Indian man said as Renee approached the counter.
‘Can I ask you somethin’, Mr Singh?’ Renee spoke loudly, bending towards the grille and sliding him her pension book.
‘You certainly can.’
‘Me son said some £5 notes won’t be legal come September and I can’t use ’em. Is that right?’
Jane saw Mr Singh smile, but was unable to hear his response as a woman and two noisy children demanding sweets were now standing beside her. She moved closer to listen, but Mr Singh was counting out Renee’s pension money which he then handed over and she placed it in her handbag.
‘Do you have any travel magazines for Florida, that’s in America?’ Renee asked Mr Singh.
He said he wasn’t sure as his wife dealt with all the magazines, but there might be something on the racks by the door. If not, a travel agent’s would be the best place. Jane had to turn her back as Renee walked towards her. Renee then went to the magazine rack and spent five minutes looking through it before going to the till where she asked Mrs Singh for some cough medicine and aspirins as well as some cigarettes and a packet of Maltesers. Renee paid then left the shop. Jane could see Mrs Singh looking at her suspiciously as if she was a shoplifter, so she bought a large bar of chocolate before hurrying out.
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.