‘Problem, ma’am?’ Joseph’s face was apprehensive.

‘More trouble on the Carborough. A group of masked yobs have torched a car.’

‘Are we required, ma’am?’

‘Not this time. Uniform have got it covered.’ Nikki looked thoughtfully at her sergeant. Was there a hint of disappointment there? Or maybe it was relief? It was hard to tell. ‘So, I think it’s time we paid a visit to Kerry Anderson’s mother and father.’

Joseph took a deep breath, then nodded resignedly. He clearly had no more liking for facing grief-stricken parents than she did.

As they got into the car, she tried to conceal the small private smile that played on her lips. So, maybe she and her strange sergeant had one thing in common after all.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE ANDERSON’S PRIDE for their daughter screamed all around the small terraced house. In most rooms, photographs, diplomas, certificates and press cuttings practically replaced wallpaper. And that made the absence of the girl herself even more poignant.

Sergeant Lucy Wells, the Family Liaison Officer, had a brief word with them in the kitchen before they spoke to the parents.

‘Mr Anderson is very quiet, but I think he’s more switched on to the gravity of what’s happened than his wife. She’s a bit flaky, convinced it’s a great big mistake, and her daughter will come marching through the front door at any moment.’

‘Well, we can’t blame her for that, can we?’ said Nikki flatly.

‘Of course not, but I’m worried about her. Apparently, she’s not strong at the best of times, and this has been one hell of a shock for her.’

‘I assume her doctor has seen her?’

‘Oh yes,’ said Lucy. ‘She’s got a bucket load of pills for her nerves, but I’m still keeping a close eye on her.’

‘And you have no suspicions about the father?’ asked Nikki, knowing the sad statistics about the abductor being a close family member.

‘If it’s him …’ Lucy raised an eyebrow, ‘… I’ll give up my career and go cut cauliflowers for a living.’

‘Okay, well, we won’t overdo the questions, but maybe they know something that could help us, even if they don’t think it’s relevant.’

In the living room, the Andersons sat close together on a floral-patterned sofa. Lucy introduced them, then went to make some tea.

‘Can you tell me why Kerry is in halls of residence when you live so close to campus, Mr Anderson?’ asked Nikki.

The man rubbed at the stubble on his chin, and sighed. ‘We argued about that, the wife and me. But it came down to the simple fact that we live on the Carborough. It’s hardly the kind of place where a youngster can get some peace and quiet to study.’

As if on call, a police siren echoed across the estate, and that was soon joined by several more.