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‘Coffee?’ asked Gino

William didn’t notice the tio home’

He looked around to see that they were the last two customers in the restaurant, and quickly called for the bill

‘Do you live nearby?’ he asked

‘In Fulham I share a flat with a friend But don’t worry, I can catch a bus from here’

‘I can’t afford the bus fare,’ said Willia at the bill ‘So can I walk you home?’

‘I hope we’ll see you again soon, signorina,’ said Gino as he opened the door for them

‘I haven’t decided yet,’ said Beth, returning his grin

William took her hand as they crossed the road, and they didn’t stop chatting about nothing, about everything, until they reached Beth’s front door, when he leant down and kissed her on the cheek As she put her key in the lock he asked, ‘Would you like to come to the Fake Gallery with me?’

‘Are you ever off duty, Detective Constable Warwick?’ she asked

‘Not while there’s an outside chance I’ll find your Rembrandt, Miss Rainsford’

9

THE RULE WAS si, you took the call, like the next cab on the rank You wrote down the details before briefing DCI Lamont, ould decide which one of the there was a case to take on

Quite often the call came from a member of the public who’d had a family keepsake stolen and wanted to knohat the police intended to do about it You had to explain that laries were a matter for their local constabulary, as the Art and Antiques unit only had four officers, so it couldn’t follow up every enquiry However, Co them that to an old lady who’d lost her Victorian brooch it was the Croels, and for many callers, this was their only direct contact with the police

‘When you put the phone down,’ he told William, ‘be sure you have a happy, satisfied customer, rather than someone who believes the police aren’t on their side’