There was another silence, then the DI said, ‘I agree, sir. So if she hasn’t met with some kind of an accident, on whatever clandestine excursion she went on, I’m forced to think the worst.’ She flipped the phone closed, ‘The Super has already checked round the local hospitals, and zilch.’ She sat for a while, chewing on her lip. ‘As soon as we get back, I’ll ring Villiers to make sure that no one goes into that pod. I would normally get uniform to close it up, but until we know a bit more, we still have to keep this unofficial. Our bloody budget doesn’t extend to our chasing round after every kid who goes on a three-day bender.’ She gave a short sigh. ‘Not for one minute do I believe that’s the case here. Whatever, our next task looks as if it will be speaking to the parents.’

Joseph glanced across and saw her face harden. No one liked this part of the job. He loathed it, but looking at her, he had the feeling that DI Galena hated it as much as he did.

Without thinking, his foot eased further down on the accelerator. He was starting to feel as uneasy as his new boss.

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘WHAT DO YOU think of this, Davey-boy?’ Cat threw a catalogue on to Dave’s desk.

‘Whoa! I’m not sure the old ticker is up to looking at that kind of thing! Where on earth did you get it, and what’s it got to do with the investigation?’ Dave tried hard not to look at the abnormally large-breasted woman in the shiny red rubber cat suit.

‘Shot in the dark, but I called into that adult shop down Carvery Lane.’ She threw him an accusatory look. ‘Nothing kinky, just checking for masks.’

‘And?’

‘Well, if they ever send me undercover to an S&M club, I know exactly where to buy my outfit, that’s for sure! But I digress. The bloke who runs it, Jimmy, he imports all his masks, via a wholesaler, from China. Hardly surprising, I know, but listen to this. Apparently there’s a big market in really scary hand-made ones. Made here in the UK.’

‘I’ve just been looking at them on the web. They are horrific! Look at this one.’ He double clicked the mouse and a hideous, rubber horror mask appeared full screen.

‘That is kid’s stuff, mate, believe me. Take a look at this, if you’ve got the stomach.’ Cat flicked through the brochure to find the right page. ‘What about that?’

Dave visibly recoiled.

Cat hid a sly smile at his reaction. ‘Effective, isn’t it? Apparently made of quality latex, and all individually designed and hand-painted. They are full head covering and are moulded from a human head to get a lifelike effect.’

‘Who the hell would buy something like that?’