53
I got into Chu’s shop without the need to commit the offence of breaking and entering, as I’d taken his keys. Once inside, I searched every square inch of it for my money, but failed to find anything of value, other than a small amount of shrapnel he’d left in the till.
Indignation welled up in my chest – he had lied to me.
Just after I’d left the shop by the rear entrance, I ran into Adkins in the narrow back street. I wondered whether he’d seen me making my exit.
“Mr Sharpe,” he said courteously.
“Can I help you, D.I. Adkins?” I asked.
“No, I’m just taking a stroll, and looking for a restaurant to have my lunch in.”
“What a coincidence, bumping into you here. Don’t you work out of the Fallowfield station?”
He smiled.
“You might find a lot of coincidences happening from now on
