Ernie Ashcroft was a mechanic in the workshop at the bus depot where Harry Hewitt was an inspector. In May 1961 Harry chatted to Ernie who complained about the vandalism caused to two buses that had sustained broken windows and slashed seats, wishing he could get his hands on the culprits and teach them a lesson. They were interrupted by a phone call from Alice Burgess, Harry's sister, who broke the news to him that Lucille was not yet home from school, despite it being 6.45pm. Harry rushed back to see what the matter was.