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, sir,’ she said. ‘I remember his face but not his name.’
    She had frozen the CCTV picture. It showed a man in his twenties coming through the Feathers doorway. It was a clear picture and he was looking upwards, which provided an excellent picture of him for ID purposes. In the corner was printed the date and time. It read: 02.06.13. 8.30 p.m.
    Angel raised his eyebrows. ‘Yes, I know him,’ he said. ‘He’s served time for something.’ He screwed up his face and rubbed his chin.
    â€˜Let it run a bit, Flora,’ he said.
    The picture on the big screen showed the man walk past the reception desk and out of shot.
    â€˜Stop it,’ Angel said, ‘and run it back to where he first comes into the picture, then let it run to when he walks out of it.’
    â€˜Right, sir. But that will only run for two or three seconds.’
    â€˜That’s all right, lass. Do it a few times. It might just shake my memory.’
    As he watched the screen, he said, ‘I do remember this lad. He was with his father and one other. They were doing the “leftover tarmac” scam.’
    Flora frowned. ‘What’s that one, sir?’ she said.
    â€˜Well, the scammers usually pick on the elderly or infirm who have a drive that is maybe a bit tatty. The most presentable of the team knocks on the door of the poor soul and says something like: “I was just in the neighbourhood resurfacing a drive, madam, and we’ve some tarmac left … just enough to even off your drive and smarten it up. It would normally cost around a thousand pounds, but we could do it for only two hundred pounds. Would you like us to do your drive?” ’
    â€˜And I suppose some people fall for it,’ Flora said.
    â€˜Yes, but there’s more. They make a dreadful job of it. They just throw some tarmac over the drive any old how, they don’t bother to make it even or roll it; then the whole team of three or four heavies knock on the door for payment. Of course there are usually protests but the bullies flex their muscles and scare the old folk, who consequently pay them. Sometimes they try to increase the price if they see the customer has more money than the agreed amount. When they’ve got the cash they make a quick exit. The poor souls they’ve swindled are often too embarrassed to admit they were taken in, and, in any case, they don’t have a clue who the men were or where they came from. It’s a despicable crime to aim at the old or disabled.’
    â€˜How was this gang caught, then, sir?’
    â€˜I think an old couple happened to catch sight of their vehicle and note its registration number, and our further inquiries subsequently brought the case to court.’
    â€˜I hope you’ll be able to find out who this is and pick him up, sir.’
    â€˜Well, Flora, I’ll buzz off and try to find the records of this case, and have this lad brought in. Well done, lass. Keep looking for any other villains. Also note the time that this lad leaves the hotel.’
    â€˜Right, sir.’
    SIX
    Angel picked up the phone and tapped in a single digit. It rang out a regular bleep. It was soon answered. ‘Control room, Sergeant Clifton.’
    â€˜Ah, Bernie, DI Angel. I want you to send a couple of lads to 4, Sebastopol Terrace. Pick up a Thomas Johnson, wanted to assist us in our inquiries.’
    â€˜Do you want him in your office, sir?’
    â€˜Better put him in an interview room.’
    â€˜Right, sir.’
    Angel cancelled the call, then checked on the address list on his phone, found Crisp’s mobile phone number and clicked on it.
    â€˜Good morning, sir,’ Crisp said. ‘I was just about to call you.’
    â€˜Well. Where are you, lad, and what have you found out?’
    â€˜I’m staying at the Blue Thistle Hotel, Clyde Street, Glasgow, sir. And I’ve got started. I went to Robinson’s flat last night. It’s a