Why hadn’t Hannah been as tidy as this when she was at home? It would have meant a lot fewer heated arguments, that was for sure. She picked up a make-up bag, took out a lipstick and undid it. She twisted the base. Same colour as Hannah’s favourite. She glanced at the label and knew that she would see the words, ‘Seriously Sexy Pink’. She put it back and tried to push thoughts of Hannah away. Instead, she stole a surreptitious glance at Joseph. Sadly she found nothing to complain about regarding his search techniques. He was annoyingly thorough, methodical and careful.

‘I’ve found a birthday card for her father,’ Joseph called out.

‘The Dean mentioned a family birthday. Has she written in it?’

‘Yes. She says, “Have a great day, old man! See you for a birthday drink on Friday. Love and kisses. K.” Oh …’ his tone altered, ‘… ma’am, I’ve just found her credit cards, student card and some cash.’

Nikki felt a cold shiver snake across her shoulder blades. ‘I said that I had a bad feeling about this.’

Joseph gave a short sigh and held out a piece of paper with a scrawl of handwriting across it. ‘Look. She’s even left herself a note to ring someone about a workshop next week. Hardly the thing to do if you are planning on doing a bunk.’

‘Right. I think it’s time we spoke to some of her colleagues, and in a very informal manner, Sergeant, I don’t want any of these kids panicked.’

‘Don’t worry, ma’am. I can do softly-softly rather well.’

‘Why doesn’t that surprise me? Come on, let’s start with the “neighbours”.’

An hour later, they made their way back to the car.

‘You drive …’ She threw Joseph the keys, ‘… while I bring the Super up to speed. I assume that if your uncle lived around here, you can find your way back to the nick without needing sat nav?’

‘I’ll try my best, ma’am.’ He adjusted the seat, clipped on his safety belt and listened as his boss spoke to the superintendent.

‘Yes, sir. It looks as though your academic friend may be right. Her room shows no signs at all of anything being out of the ordinary. Kerry has taken nothing with her to indicate that she was planning on going away, and she was seen leaving the student’s block at around midnight on Monday. She was wearing casual clothes, carrying only a shoulder bag and wearing hiking boots.’

After a short break in her side of the conversation, she said, ‘No, not unusual. Midnight is far from late for a student, sir, and her friends say she would often go out with her camera taking night studies, although the boots do indicate that where ever she was going, it certainly wasn’t clubbing.’