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Chapters (62)
  1. Title
  2. Copyright
  3. Contents
  4. About the Author
  5. About the Book
  6. Dedication
  7. Your Worst Nightmare
  8. ONE
  9. TWO
  10. THREE
  11. FOUR
  12. FIVE
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. EIGHT
  16. NINE
  17. The Answer to All Your Prayers
  18. TEN
  19. ELEVEN
  20. TWELVE
  21. THIRTEEN
  22. FOURTEEN
  23. FIFTEEN
  24. SIXTEEN
  25. SEVENTEEN
  26. EIGHTEEN
  27. NINETEEN
  28. TWENTY
  29. TWENTY-ONE
  30. TWENTY-TWO
  31. TWENTY-THREE
  32. TWENTY-FOUR
  33. TWENTY-FIVE
  34. TWENTY-SIX
  35. TWENTY-SEVEN
  36. TWENTY-EIGHT
  37. TWENTY-NINE
  38. THIRTY
  39. THIRTY-ONE
  40. Somebody Else’s Child
  41. THIRTY-TWO
  42. THIRTY-THREE
  43. THIRTY-FOUR
  44. THIRTY-FIVE
  45. THIRTY-SIX
  46. THIRTY-SEVEN
  47. THIRTY-EIGHT
  48. THIRTY-NINE
  49. FORTY
  50. FORTY-ONE
  51. FORTY-TWO
  52. FORTY-THREE
  53. FORTY-FOUR
  54. FORTY-FIVE
  55. FORTY-SIX
  56. FORTY-SEVEN
  57. FORTY-EIGHT
  58. FORTY-NINE
  59. Sunlight on Water
  60. July
  61. September
  62. Acknowledgements

‘I was looking at one of the previous owners of the car Evan was found in, the Ford Focus. Sheila Birch. She hadn’t been the main driver of the vehicle. That was down to her husband, Brian. There was something there that gave me a feeling. You know how sometimes things just feel a bit off? It niggled me for days, and then it came to me. His story was, after the car was taken, he got a train back down south. Hartlepool into Euston, he said. And that didn’t sound quite right, so I had a look on Google, and sure enough trains from Hartlepool go mostly into King’s Cross. OK, that could’ve been misremembering or a slip of the tongue or maybe he took some obscure route, travelled via Blackpool or Leicester or Aberystwyth. It’s not a solid lead, I know, and it may be nothing, but I just think it’s worth a closer look, where exactly the car was taken from and what he was doing in Hartlepool. No stone unturned, right? This is a guy who doesn’t want a company car. Who on earth turns down a company car for an 09-plate Ford?’

Ron frowns.

‘Who indeed? That’s an interesting one. So where are we talking about? Don’t tell me you’re wanting me to go all the way to County Durham?’

Naylor shakes her head.

‘Not as far as that. This guy’s offices are in Chelmsford. I didn’t have time to visit while I was there but they might know something about his background. I’d really appreciate it, especially as there’s nothing in it for you. It’s not as if I can even offer you expenses.’

‘I’ve been to Chelmsford once or twice, but only to the prison. Haven’t they got some gardens there, a stately home?’

‘I’ve no idea.’

‘I drove past signs to it, and I thought June might like to visit. I’ll run it by her, and I’ll let you know. And if I’m considering doing you this massive, illicit favour, I think you should be buying me another pint.’