When she arrived at the boatyard it was locked and padlocked. The street behind her was beginning to come to life, but there was no sign that anyone had been into Kerr’s secret domain. The hoar frost on the pavement was undisturbed. Now her anxiety increased. She saw Malcolm Kerr as a lost and friendless man with nothing to lose. Bad enough if he’d killed himself. But, again, she thought that he was desperate and that he might try to fight back. She wanted no more violence. She ran through the options for action. She could get a warrant to search his house and the yard. Any evidence was circumstantial and based on the fact that he’d lied to them, but with two women dead it should be straightforward. A phone call to Holly would set the process in train. Still she hesitated. She knew it was illogical, but she had a fellow-feeling for Kerr. She’d known him since she was a child. She wanted the chance to talk to him before he was labelled a killer.

On impulse she walked back to the Harbour Guest House. She saw that George Enderby was eating breakfast in the dining room, at his usual table in the window. She’d forgotten that he’d told her he was staying an extra night. He glanced out and saw her and looked suddenly anxious. I have that effect on people wherever I go. She waved to him and smiled, then climbed the steps and knocked on the door. Kate Dewar answered. It seemed that she was in the middle of a conversation and something had made her laugh. She was still smiling when she saw Vera.

‘Inspector?’ A little wary, but not worried. Vera hadn’t seen her so happy. Then she noticed Stuart Booth standing in the shadow just behind Kate. The woman had been talking to him when Vera had arrived. Vera guessed that Booth hadn’t told her about his earlier relationship with Margaret Krukowski. Sensible. Vera had always thought honesty was an overrated virtue. Except during a police investigation.

‘Is your son in, Mrs Dewar?’

Now Kate was suddenly worried. ‘Why do you want Ryan? What’s he done?’

‘Nothing!’ Vera smiled in what she hoped was a reassuring way. ‘I’m looking for Malcolm Kerr, who seems to have gone AWOL, and I thought Ryan might have some idea where he might be.’

‘The kids are both downstairs having breakfast. We’ve just finished.’

‘Is it okay if I go down? You come along too.’