‘You have a guest, Sam Jones. I need to see her immediately.’

‘I’ll try her room, sir, if you’ll just take a seat—’

‘What’s her room number?’

‘Well, I can’t just let you—’

‘What is her room number?’ Bancho spoke slowly, emphasizing each word before adding, ‘Or would you rather we discussed obstructing a police inquiry?’

The receptionist struggled to reclaim her aplomb and said, ‘Two four three.’ She handed Bancho the key-card and added helpfully, as she had no doubt done a thousand times, ‘It’s on the second floor.’

The ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign hung on the handle of room 243. Bancho knocked and, as expected, there was no answer. He inserted the electronic card into the lock, but the light stayed red; he jiggled it in and out of the slot agitatedly before PC Sheehy took over. Turning the handle she opened the door and held it open. ‘After you, sir,’ she said smugly.

Everything was in its place, and the bed was made. Sam’s mobile was even charging on the bedside table. But there was no sign of her. Bancho picked up the mobile and checked the missed calls. All of his own attempts to contact her were listed there. He used the hotel phone and called reception as he checked her inbox to see if there were any new texts. ‘Give me a record of any phone calls Ms Jones made last night.’

The room phone rang within seconds. The receptionist was delighted to report that they had no record of the guest in room 243 making or receiving any phone calls. Bancho put the phone down and turned to PC Sheehy who was on the mobile ringing the last number dialled. She put the phone on loudspeaker.

‘Royal College of Psychiatrists. Dr Gerry Cornwell’s office. Can I help you?’ PC Sheehy didn’t want to show their hand, so she hung up. ‘Why would the inspector be calling a psychiatrist?’ she asked.

Bancho said nothing, recognizing the name from his read-through the evening before of the Cook case papers. Yesterday, when he had first seen Sam Jones, she had been carrying a briefcase. Where was it now? He got down on his hands and knees, searching under the bed, desk and couch for the bag. Sheehy had Sam’s mobile in her hand as he looked. ‘You check the other numbers on the mobile and I’ll search for the case,’ he told her.