PC Smith sat in front of the undercover police car next to Gina. Jacob was with another officer on the other side of the road, watching. Another two cars had been prepped and were waiting on side streets. ‘Okay, our young man was seen about forty minutes ago, when we got the call. He was loitering by the bus stop.’

Gina watched as Smith spoke. ‘I hope he comes back soon.’

‘I hope he comes back full stop. There have been so many false alarms.’

Gina smiled. ‘I used to love my uniform days. It’s like being back. I don’t miss Broad Street, Birmingham, on a Saturday night though.’

‘I know what you mean. Did it for a long time before being transferred here. Cleevesford sees far less action. We get the occasional bout of trouble, the odd fight at the Angel but nothing too taxing.’

‘You’re a good copper, Smith. Have you ever thought about becoming a detective? You’re always an asset when we have a big case on.’ Gina grabbed a chocolate biscuit from the bag in the footwell.

‘I did think about it. Unlike you, I love a rowdy Saturday night. I love uniform and front-line policing. I love days like this. Does it sound wrong to love being here to bust a drug dealer?’

‘Not at all. It’s exciting. Much better than sitting at home watching TV.’ Gina crunched on the biscuit and offered the packet to Smith.

He patted his belly. ‘Best not. The wife says I’m getting fat. She said I’m not allowed any more of O’Connor’s offerings.’

Gina laughed and placed the biscuits back in the bag. ‘I best move them out of your way then.’ They had been sitting in the car for over half an hour now and no activity had occurred. People waited at the bus stop, ordinary folk going home late from work. People went to the chip shop and left with wrapped up fried food. The drifting smell of chips wafted through the slightly open window. Nothing out of the ordinary stood out. Gina began fanning herself with her hands, trying to battle the suffocating heat.

The radio cracked into action. ‘Anything your end?’ said PC Kapoor with a high-pitched Brummie accent.

‘Not as yet.’ Smith paused and stared out of the window. A young man was checking his surroundings as he took large strides towards the bus stop. ‘It looks like our guy. Young male, white, looks to be about five ten, shoulder-length, wavy dark hair, twenties. Remember, he doesn’t do just one deal then leave. Pick up anyone he’s dealt to when they’re out of sight. Continue watching him. I want him and all the punters.’

‘Understood,’ Kapoor said.

Another young male began walking towards the bus stop. Black, greasy hair. It glistened as the light from the chip shop sign caught the top of his head. She recognised the well-built man. ‘That’s Darren Mason.’

‘Darren Mason?’

‘The kid we brought in. He was the one who was driving the van in which our girl came from. We found a packet of weed in his van. That must be his dealer. It didn’t take him five minutes to break his bail conditions.’ Gina grabbed the radio. ‘We have our first customer. It’s only Darren Mason.’

Jacob answered. ‘Bloody hell.’

‘When he’s made his purchase, get one of the officers on foot to follow him. As soon as he’s out of the dealer’s sight, arrest him.’

‘I’m on it, guv.’

‘You’re taking over my bust, guv.’ Smith held out his hand. Gina passed him the radio.

She laughed and continued watching as the speedy transaction took place. The dealer bent down as if pulling up a sock. Darren Mason bumped into him and it was over. Mason continued walking away. ‘I wonder if our dealer has finished for the evening or if there will be others.’

‘He hasn’t moved. He’s not going anywhere yet.’

‘We’ve got him,’ Kapoor said through the radio. ‘One of the officers is taking Mason in to be questioned now.’

‘One down, however many to go.’ Gina smiled and grabbed another biscuit. The sugary bakes were set to be her evening meal, she might as well eat as many as she could manage and fill herself up.

‘Look at him,’ Smith said, his gaze on the dealer. ‘Full of it, has no idea we’re on to him. I love it when it’s like this.’

Gina’s stomach began to flutter. She couldn’t wait to pounce, to get in there and arrest the man. She couldn’t wait to question him, see if he knew either of their girls. Both of them had been discovered locally. There can’t be too many dealers in Cleevesford. He could be their man. If not, it was certain that he’d know who his competition was. Whether he’d give that information up was another matter.

‘Come on.’ She began to annoyingly bounce her knee as she waited. ‘Sorry,’ she said as she stopped. It was a habit of O’Connor’s that annoyed her. She was going to try to not be as annoying as him. ‘Who’s that?’

A couple that looked to be in their forties were beginning to slow down by the bus stop. ‘Going home from work. He’s wearing a T-shirt with a logo on it. Maybe they catch the bus.’ Smith leaned back and observed.

The couple slowed down and again, they looked like they’d bumped into the young man and it was all over. The woman nudged the man and they laughed as they crossed the road and went into the chip shop. Gina could see the disapproving look on the chip shop manager’s face. He looked out of the large glass front towards the bus stop. ‘Please don’t give the game away.’ Gina tapped her fingernails on the dashboard as she leaned forward. ‘Stop looking out. He’s giving away that he knows we’re here.’

‘Here’s his number. You call him while I arrange for officers to be ready to pick the couple up.’

‘Hello, Cleevesford Fish Bar.’

‘Hello, this is DI Harte. Please stop looking out of the window. We have this under control, but you will make the dealer twitchy. We don’t want him to run. Don’t look, but the couple who are next in the queue have just bought something. Serve them, be your usual polite self and we will pick them up. Can you do that?’

‘Of course. We are open until eleven every night,’ he said as he hung up.

Gina smiled. Another woman approached wearing a rain mac with a hood covering her head. Her shiny heels clacked on the pavement. ‘Another customer?’

‘Nothing surprises me. Both sides of the street are covered by officers, ready to pick the couple up.’

‘Great.’ Gina watched the couple leaving the chip shop. They headed off to the left, back past the Angel Arms pub, towards the newer estate.

‘They’re heading towards King Street,’ Smith said.

Gina watched as the next woman pulled her plastic hood further over her forehead. It was too dark to see what she looked like. As she approached the dealer, she held out some cash and dropped one of the notes. She thrust what she had into the young man’s arms as she reached for the other note. He frantically looked around as he threw a package towards her, snatching the last note as she stood up from the pavement. His gaze rested on their car. They’d been spotted.

The man darted. ‘Dealer heading towards King Street. All units standing by head along the back road and cut him off. He’s on foot. The woman has just left in the opposite direction on foot. We’re heading towards King Street. Stop the woman.’

Smith set the siren off and pulled out of the car park, speeding onto the High Street. Gina held onto the seat as he took a right onto King Street. She watched as the dealer jumped over a fence, landing in a residential back garden.

Gina darted out of the car, leaving the door open. She heaved herself up over the fence. She was getting too unfit to give chase. She felt a splinter embed itself into the palm of her hand. She landed in a shrubbery on the other side of the fence, flinching as she reached out and grabbed a spiny bush. Rain pattered, bouncing off the wheelie bin next to the back door. The terraced house looked empty and left no way to get out unless he’d escaped over another fence. She got to her feet and stumbled into the overgrown garden. It was silent. Creeping around, she listened for signs of movement.

‘Guv?’ It was Jacob.

‘I’m here. Beware of the shrubs.’ She heard a thud as he joined her in the garden, swearing as he landed on the spines. She continued to creep around. She hadn’t heard the dealer climb another fence but the garden was empty. As she reached the house, she heard a shuffle. Turning, she caught sight of the young man, crouching behind the bin. ‘Here he is.’ They had caught their dealer and possibly the person who knew something about their two girls.