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statements we have already got, and there was one from a woman opposite the Wood house who saw a man walking a dog that evening. Well, he has a dog and it matches the description of this one.” He passed over a statement. “That’s from a chap who lives in Jacks Road, opposite the park. He says he looked out of his window about seven thirty. Some kids were making a hell of a racket. He saw him in the park with his dog. He is certain it was him because he knows him. Now, if you look at this map” – he pointed to a red circle – “that’s the Wood house, this is his house and this is the park. You can see that the only way to the park is right past her house. Now, consider this: on this side, in the opposite direction to the Wood house, is another park, which is half as far from his house as the one he was seen in.”
    â€œYou know, Joe, from what you have shown me, I think he went to see Miss Wood that evening; when he found she wasn’t in he carried on to the park; then, on his way back, by which time she would have arrived home from Mrs Thomas’s, he called on her. No – hold on – he would have had the dog with him. No – he must have taken the dog back to the vicarage first, then gone round there. She let him in and bingo! It all seems to fit, but it’s only circumstantial.”
    I sat there thinking and stirring my tea.
    â€œYou’ll have a hole in the bottom in a minute.”
    â€œEh? What? Sorry, Joe. You were saying – I was miles away?”
    â€œYour cup – you will stir a hole in it.”
    â€œOh, right.”
    I put the spoon in the saucer and took a drink from the cup.
    â€˜Yuk!’ I thought. The tea tasted horrible, and I doubt whether it would have tasted much better if it was hot.
    â€œJoe, this is what we will do: tomorrow the Chief’s off all day, and the weekend too, on a course, so early in the morning we will go and pull him in. That’ll give us plenty of time to break him down, get a confession and have the whole thing wrapped up by the time the Chief gets in on Monday. That way his boss can’t get on to the Chief and pull any strings.”
    â€œAre you sure this is the best way, boss? What about if he didn’t do it? I mean, the evidence we have so far wouldn’t convict a drunk for jaywalking.”
    â€œI know, Joe – but he’s guilty, I can feel it. Trust me. We’ll nail the bastard to the cross if we have to. When you get back to the nick have another go at Adwell. See if you can get a statement from that woman he was messing about with. Then, tomorrow morning, I’ll meet you at the office at six o’clock and we can go and lift him out of bed. That should shake him up.”
    â€œSix o’clock, boss – good grief, it’s a bit early! It’s all right for you: you don’t have a grumbling wife. She hates being woken up at that time, I can tell you.”
    â€œWell, don’t wake her.”
    â€œYou are joking. If I sneak out without her knowing and checking I’ve got a clean shirt on, then, well, I wouldn’t dare go home again.”
    I laughed at the pained expression on Joe’s face. I could just picture his wife at that time of the morning, bell tent for a dressing gown, head immersed in curlers. She was a big lady was Betty and looked formidable at the best of times, let alone early in the morning.
    â€˜Well, Joe,’ I thought, ‘you are more than welcome. I don’t envy you – not one little bit.’

Chapter 6
    The next morning, at about six thirty, saw us banging on that large oak door. Only policemen, it seems, can knock in such a way that the occupants immediately know there are police at their door and they are in trouble. We usually have to bang a few times, which adds to the drama for the occupants – but not this time. The door was flung open quickly, just as Joe was about to deliver the follow-up