Afterwards, Charles put down his bag. ‘I’m afraid I need to use your system again,’ he told the head of the station. ‘This time to get on to MI5.’

Chapter Nine

It was after hours by the time Charles reached London. He went straight to his office, asked Sonia to come up and see him, then rang Michael Dunton, who was also still at work.

‘All we know is what you said the sister-in-law said to Sarah,’ Michael said. ‘Shelley has checked his phone and computer and social media and all that and there’s nothing, nothing at all. Which is unusual. D’you think he’s taken fright after your session with him?’

‘I don’t see why he should’ve. It wasn’t exactly threatening. Quite the opposite.’

‘Let’s hope it’s not the quiet before the storm, that he’s not holed up somewhere planning an attack.’

‘What about his friends, the little group he’s in with?’

‘All normal, apparently. No one missing, nothing untoward, no one’s mentioned him. Perhaps he’s walked under a bus or jumped in the river.’

‘That would be a sin too far, unless he did it while defending the Faith. We – Sarah or I – could go back to his sister-in-law, see if we can get any more.’

‘Much appreciated. I’ll ask Shelley to get in touch.’

Charles put down the phone and looked up to see Gareth standing in the doorway, listening. The private office was unmanned, so there was no access control. Gareth grinned. ‘Trouble at t’mill?’

‘All is not quiet on the home front.’

While Charles explained Gareth walked in and sat. He looked calm and relaxed. When Charles finished he said quietly, ‘You’ve been to see Timber Wolf.’