‘That’s the norm around here, and this is the quiet part,’ he added miserably.

‘We know, Mr Anderson. Our uniforms spend as much time here as they do in their own homes, and I take your point, but I thought universities usually kept those rooms for students from out of the area?’

‘The principle, Dr Villiers, was very kind. He made an exception considering her unusually high pass marks and her dedication.’

‘This can’t be happening! Not to my Kerry!’ The mouse-like woman on the sofa suddenly flared up like a reborn phoenix. ‘Who would want to hurt her? She’s a good girl!’

‘Mary, Mary.’ Hugh Anderson’s voice sounded horribly tired. He patted the woman’s shoulder gently. ‘We have to try to help these good people. They are as worried about our lass as we are. So no more outbursts, my darling, because they really don’t help.’

Mary Anderson slumped back, almost disappearing into the cushions. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘There is no need to apologize, Mrs Anderson, no need at all.’ Joseph’s voice was full of real compassion. ‘It’s us that should be sorry. We cannot begin to know what you’re going through, but if we are to find Kerry, we have to ask you to help us.’

The woman shook her head slowly from side to side. ‘I just don’t know what we can possibly tell you.’

Nikki saw that she was close to tears. ‘Well then, just tell us about Kerry. Her likes, dislikes, friends, hobbies, pets, anything you can think of, just talk about her to us.’

They talked for over half an hour, and Nikki began to build up a picture of the missing girl. Kerry, it seemed, was not a social student, and although likable, she was so unusually single-minded, so totally committed to her photographic studies that they overpowered even the need for close friends, and something about that image disturbed Nikki.

Back in the car, she turned to Joseph and abruptly said, ‘Didn’t have a lot to say, did you, Sergeant?’

She felt the temperature drop a few degrees before he answered.

‘Not something I enjoy.’ His words were clipped. ‘Frankly, I’d rather face a few tooled-up thugs in a dark alley.’

I bet you would! she thought, but said, ‘Well, at least what you did say seemed to come from the heart.’

Joseph did not answer this time, so she continued. ‘So, regarding Kerry. Did you get the feeling that she would have sold her soul to get away from the Carborough?’

Joseph turned the key in the ignition. ‘I did. And all things considered, it’s a marvel she stayed on the straight and narrow. She had to have some special kind of strength to remain focused on getting to Uni. I dread to think where she would have ended up if she’d relinquished her dream.’