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‘And what are we looking for?’ asked William, as he’d never taken part in a stake-out before

‘Visitors, especially those who obviously aren’t locals Not that I think Mr Big is likely to come down to Barnstaple just to please us But we’ll need to take photos of everyone who goes in or out of the house, and e get back to the Yard we’ll check to see if they allery’

‘Anything else?’

‘Number plates of every car parked near the house, or any suspicious-looking vehicles We can check them out on the police national co for will park right outside Carter’s front door Police work isn’t that convenient’

‘Do we split up or work as a pair?’

‘That will depend on whether we can watch the house fro spotted Either way, it will be hours of patient surveillance, with no certainty of anything to show for it’

‘Do you think we’ll find out what he’s up to?’

‘Unlikely,’ said Jackie ‘But you can bet there’ll be a surprise or te’ll have to think on our feet’

‘Who decides e go back to London?’

‘Lamont’

‘Then we could be stuck down there forever’

Jackie laughed ‘I don’t think so Don’t forget he expects you to accoh And you’ve also got to take the copy of the Rembrandt back to Faulkner’s home in the country’

They drove on for some time in companionable silence

‘Does Lamont have any family?’

‘He’s a triple disaster,’ said Jackie ‘Three ex-wives, and five children His first three es lasted six years, three years and one year, and I’er God kno he can afford the alimony It would be cheaper to take the occasional lover, like the rest of us’