Tom knew what he should do: register Jack’s hacked information as intelligence without declaring its source, so it could be checked for reliability. Then an application could be made for a court order so he could officially obtain the information he needed from the travel companies. But it would take too long.

A thought occurred to him. Becky had said there had been extensive press coverage in the attempt to find Callie Baldwin. But Nathan knew her – he had met her.

He quickly dialled Nathan’s number again, hoping that he and Jack had stayed outside the Atwells’ grounds.

‘What can I do for you, Tom?’

‘That Callie woman you talked about. Did she have anything to do with Thea or Garrick Atwell when you were all on the boat?’

‘Anything to do with them? They practically lived in each other’s pockets! I tried to get Callie alone a few times – like I said, I thought she could have been the one who met Hannah and might know where she had taken herself off to – but Thea bit my bloody head off whenever I went near her. She was so protective. I’d have found it claustrophobic if I’d been Callie. Thea seemed to revel in the role of being the understanding older woman, and Callie fell under her spell.’

There might just be a solution here that Tom could work with.

‘I can tell you this, Nathan, because it is all over the press in north Manchester. Callie Baldwin is missing.’

‘What the fuck?’

‘There’s more to it than that, but I can’t talk to you about the rest right now. I’m surprised you’ve not seen her picture on the news.’

‘I told you, I don’t watch TV much.’

Tom felt a flash of frustration. Nathan could have helped them solve this days ago.

‘Ask Jack to Google her. Check if the girl in the photo is the one who was on the boat and then get back to me. If they are the same, we can say the information that links Thea Atwell, Callie Baldwin and your sister Hannah has all come from you – legitimately.’

Tom hung up and waited, although he knew in advance what the response would be. Now all he had to decide was the most appropriate next step.

CHAPTER 60

60

A few cars have come and gone since I arrived in the police station car park, but no one is taking any notice of me. There are cameras, and I wonder how long it will be before someone comes out and asks me why I’m sitting here. Maybe it would be easier to wait until that happens. It feels like less of a conscious decision.