‘Can we arrange for her brother to see her?’
‘He’s being held in the cells, Tennison… I might be able to get her off any charges, but I can’t do anything about him.’
At that moment, Stanley walked in carrying a large evidence bag.
‘Guv, we’ve finished searching the Hernandez flat… We found drug paraphernalia, a lot of money, stolen credit cards, as well as two more addresses for premises we believe Andres Hernandez also owns.’
‘Bloody hell! We’re going to have paperwork coming out of our ears with this one.’
‘Not necessarily, Guv,’ Stanley responded. ‘Take a look at what we found under the floorboards.’
Stanley pulled a bundle of passports out of the evidence bag, splaying them out like a deck of cards in front of Church. ‘These belong to fourteen different girls, all under the age of sixteen. This has to be handed over to Vice now… it’s no longer Dip Squad territory.’
‘Nice one, Stanley. Thank Christ for that. Vice can deal with all the paperwork now. We just need to follow procedure with the arrested suspects for the pickpocket charges, then they can go up in front of the magistrates. And we don’t need to worry about Regina’s rapist after you dealt with him, Tennison… that’s one hell of a right foot you’ve got. But you’d better stop making a habit of this… I know what happened when you were a decoy.’
Jane had a flashback to the time when she had been acting as a decoy in London Fields, Hackney. A man had attacked her, with intent to rape, and she had never forgotten the feeling of violation.
‘You’d better get on with completing your report and you can make the bail objections at court tomorrow morning.’
As Jane and Stanley left Church’s office she felt flattered to have been trusted with this task, but at the same time wasn’t at all sure how to make out the objection to bail, as she was not certain exactly what it should be.
‘Stanley, this bail objection… could you just fill me in on what’s required?’
‘Sorry, luv, I’m off to the pub to celebrate. Ask Blondie. He’ll tell you what you need to write. Oh, and photocopy these girls’ passports for our records; they might also be dippers.’ He handed her the wad of passports and walked off.
Jane copied the passports first and left them on Stanley’s desk with the copies. With Dunston’s help, she spent the next hour writing out the report for the arrests they had made. She thanked him, and as it was now after eight in the evening, she said she would head off home.
‘I wouldn’t if I were you. The team will be expecting you at the pub. I’ll walk you over there… and be prepared for getting some stick.’
‘Do you know what time I should be at court in the morning?’
‘No, but call in first thing. Just make sure you’ve got all the paperwork.’
Jane hesitated. She was unsure whether she could take police documents home with her, but as Dunston didn’t appear concerned she picked up all the reports and put them in her briefcase.
The favoured watering hole for the Dip Squad was the Snug Bar at the Dog and Duck, an ornate Victorian building with lavish interior tiling and grand gold-leafed mirrors. As Blondie Dunston had predicted, she was the butt of all their jokes. DCI Church laughed as Stanley relayed how Jane had nearly been ‘squashed like a fly under the oncoming train’.
‘Well, Tennison, you know the train drivers on the Underground get time off for a jumper. Here you go, have another glass of wine on me.’
Jane took the stream of repetitive jokes about how she had fouled up on her first day and almost ended up under a train. Whilst they were all getting plastered, especially Stanley, she made her escape.
Jane was exhausted after her first day, but on returning to her flat she immediately felt better. It made such a huge difference to have a place of her own to go home to. She had just run a bath, and was wearing her dressing gown, when the phone rang. The sound took her by surprise, but then she smiled, realising that it was her own phone.
‘Jane? It’s Edith. How did your first day go?’
‘It could have been better… I think I’ll have a lot to learn. It’s very different from Bow Street. I was on an arrest of two pickpockets, and I’ll be taking the case to court tomorrow.’
‘Oh, jolly good. Now listen, I know you advertised a room in The Job. Have you had any takers?’
‘Well, I’ve been out all day and didn’t get back until quite late, so there’s nobody yet.’
‘Listen, dear, you really need to monitor any applicants. And if there are no takers then you should put an advert up at one of the colleges close to your flat. You don’t want any one too old, or too young, and you need to make out a list of questions to ask them, especially about their diet… God forbid you should get a vegan moving in! And check if they have boyfriends. You don’t want a man moving in at weekends as well, because that’s what happens… You need to make firm rules, no visitors… it’s best to make sure they are single and employed. And you must get references, as well as six weeks’ rent in advance. Plus you’ll need to declare any lodgers to the Met, as I told you…’
Jane tried her best to absorb all of Edith’s suggestions and, when she could get a word in edgeways, promised that when she had time she would make a list to have ready to interview any applicants.
‘I’m glad you called, Edith.’
‘That’s all right, dear. Truth be told, I miss you. A very young DC has taken over from you, and thinks he knows everything… Smart Alec type.’
Jane was eager to go and have a bath but Edith seemed unwilling to end the call.
‘How’s your mother?’ Jane asked
‘Oh, much the same. I had porridge all over the kitchen this morning… she really is such a trial. Now she won’t eat the dinner I brought in… it’s cold salmon with salad, and she wants mashed potatoes and gravy… Anyway, dear, it’s been good to talk to you. Just you remember to be careful about who you let your room out to. Remember the IRA were only just around the corner from you, in that terrible siege… they killed an officer last February as well, you know. So make sure that whoever you are considering as a flatmate gets vetted by the Met.’
‘I will. Thank you for calling, Edith.’
Jane replaced the receiver and went into her bathroom. The truth was that she enjoyed being on her own, and liked the freedom of being able to walk around naked if she wanted to. But the mortgage wouldn’t pay itself — she would have to rent out the spare bedroom. She decided she would take Edith’s advice and check out the nearest colleges in the morning, and perhaps even put an advert up in the local newsagents.
Chapter Three
Jane ate breakfast in her dressing gown, then put on a suit and a clean, pressed shirt. She coiled her hair into a pleat and, on looking in the mirror, was satisfied that she was smart enough for her court appearance. It wasn’t even seven yet, so she thought she would contact the Dip Squad at Vine Street to find out if they had a more accurate time schedule for her to be at the court. She dialled the number for the station, but the phone rang without anyone answering. She wasn’t sure whether she should go to Vine Street or straight to Bow Street Court, so decided to wait and then try calling again. Whilst she was waiting she put together an advert, writing it out neatly on two cards — one for the newsagents and, remembering Edith’s advice, one to pin up at one of the nearest colleges.
It was almost seven forty-five when she called the station again. This time the phone was answered by a gruff voice, which she recognised as Stanley’s. Jane asked him if there had been an allocated time for her court appearance.