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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

‘Not quite. There’s something else you want to think about. Two men with a live cargo like that, they’re not going to be careless. Bet your bottom dollar they’ve got major concerns about falling foul of ANPR, flawed as it may be. Since you haven’t found spare number plates – and bear in mind you can whip them on and off with strips of Velcro, so never rule it out – I think you should consider something else. Maybe they used more than one car.’

‘That suggests some careful planning.’

‘They’ve got a real, live boy in the boot. Wouldn’t you be planning carefully?’

‘So you’re saying they could have been going from anywhere, to anywhere?’

‘It’s not as bad as that,’ says Perdue. ‘Have a good look at the map. You’ve clocked them twice, so you’ve got a general direction of travel. My gut says don’t trust the Wakefield spot, because that could be a detour. Ducking and diving, remember? They were coming from the north, no doubt about that, but don’t get stuck thinking they began their journey near Harrogate. Two cars, Rachel, I guarantee it. Maybe more than two. Start there.’

‘Campbell’s not going to like it. He thinks we’re already closing in.’

‘Well, I don’t think you are. Widen your search area, or I think you’re going to be making a serious mistake. Remember the Yorkshire Ripper.’

‘The Wearside Jack tapes.’

‘Wearside Jack indeed. You think you’ve got a solid lead, and it takes you right up the longest blind alley of your career. Too much police time focused on that hoax cost three women their lives. Hasn’t the boy given you any idea of where you should be looking?’

‘He’s not saying anything at all.’

‘Hardly surprising. Give him time.’

‘We need him to talk.’ Naylor looks at her watch. ‘I have to go. It’s been good to see you, Ron.’ She reaches for her purse, but Perdue stops her.

‘My treat,’ he says. ‘But get your map out, Rachel, and use some logic. West Yorkshire’s a red herring. I’d stake my reputation on it. Promise me you’ll look into it.’

‘We’ll look into it,’ says Naylor. ‘Give June my regards.’

It’s after six when Naylor leaves the office that evening. Dallabrida catches up with her as she gets into the lift, slapping a hand on the edge to force the half-closed doors to slide back. He steps in beside her, bringing his smell of Gucci aftershave and spearmint gum.

He stands legs astride like a Bob Hoskins gangster, hands folded over his crotch in a bouncer’s pose, so close to her they’d be shoulder to shoulder, if Dallabrida’s shoulder weren’t so much higher than her own.