“Do you think he had ambitions to follow in his father’s footsteps?”

“Musically, perhaps. But I think his attitude toward his father was very complex and ambiguous. A mix of admiration and anger at abandonment.”

“None of this seems to transform into a motive, though, does it?” said Banks. He stubbed out his cigarette. “What about Josie and Calvin Batty?”

“As suspects?”

“In general.”

“Josie is the only person we’ve talked to so far who says she saw Luke with the tattooed girl.”

“Norman Wells recognized the description.”

“Yes,” Annie pointed out. “But not in connection with Luke. I’m not saying we stop looking for her, just that we don’t pin all our hopes on her. We still have to keep an open mind on this one.”

“Agreed.”

“By the way, Winsome ran a check on all cars reported stolen in the Eastvale area the night Luke disappeared. There are two possibilities, one abandoned near Hawes, in Wensleydale, and the other in Richmond.”

“Then we’d better have Stefan’s team check them both for any signs of blood.”

Annie made a note. “Okay.”

The server brought their lunches over: a salad sandwich for Annie and lasagne and chips for Banks. He didn’t usually like pub lasagne—it was too soupy—but Cyril’s wife Glenys made a good one.

“Talking about cars,” Banks said after pausing for a few mouthfuls. “How are forensics coming on with Norman Wells’s?”

“Stefan called in a couple of hours ago. Nothing yet. Do you really expect anything?”

“Maybe not. But it’s got to be done.”

“Do you think we should have detained him?”

Banks took a sip of beer before answering. “We’ve nothing to hold him on,” he said. “And he does have his business to run. Besides, I don’t think Mr. Wells is going anywhere.”

“What about Lauren Anderson?”

“Methinks the lady did protest too much.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Just that her reaction to a simple question seemed extreme.”

“She did sound awfully close to Luke. Emotionally, I mean.”

“But she does have an alibi. Ask Winsome to check with the brother, Vernon, just to be certain, but I can’t imagine she’d risk lying about that. And it was a man’s voice on the ransom call.”

“I’m not suggesting she did it—she certainly seemed genuine in her regard for him—just that she might know more than she’s letting on about what Luke was up to.”

“You’re right,” said Banks. “We shouldn’t rule her out. Maybe you could get Winsome and young Kevin to run background checks on everyone we know who was connected with Luke, and that includes the Battys, Alastair Ford, Lauren Anderson and the mystery girl, if we ever find her.”

“What about Rose Barlow?”

“I don’t know,” Banks said. “We should have a word with her, though it seems that whatever went on between her and Luke ended months ago.”

“What about forensic checks on Ford’s house, and the Anderson woman’s?”

Banks shook his head. “We can’t afford to be sending expensive forensic teams to everyone’s house. With Wells we had good reason—his history, for a start. Besides, we know Luke has been in Lauren Anderson’s house.”