The voice was deep, and although Joseph wasn’t sure, he thought it held the slightest hint of an accent. Jewish, maybe? He waited for a moment, then realized that his boss wasn’t going to introduce him. ‘My name is Detective Sergeant Joseph Easter. I’m temporarily assigned to work with DI Galena, sir.’

‘Ah, Joseph. A good name. My eldest boy is called Joseph, isn’t he, Nikki?’ There was an almost conspiratorial lift of a thick grey eyebrow.

The DI chose to ignore whatever that implied and simply nodded. ‘But you haven’t come here to discuss the family, have you, Archie?’

‘Actually, I have.’

There was a long silence, then she said, ‘Look, I know that you’d rather eat broken glass than walk in here voluntarily, so it has to be serious. What has happened?’

The man seemed to shrink, as he said, ‘Lisa Jane’s missing.’

‘Your brother Frank’s daughter? The pretty one with the long, dark hair?’

‘All our girls are pretty.’ He looked at the DI reproachfully. ‘But yes, the long dark hair. My lovely Lisa Jane.’

‘How long has she been gone?’ She was clearly shocked.

‘Two days. She was going to a new club with her friends, but she never arrived.’

‘For God’s sake, Archie! Why didn’t you come to me sooner?’

The man looked excruciatingly tired. ‘You know how we do things, Nikki. The family wanted to sort it.’

‘I know you never involve the Old Bill, but Hell’s fire, man, this is Lisa Jane we’re talking about.’ She swung round and looked Joseph straight in the eyes. ‘Lisa Jane Leonard. Nineteen years old. Beautiful. Dark brunette, brown eyes—’

‘Small scar below her left ear, and a tattoo of a butterfly on her right shoulder blade,’ added Archie painfully.

‘Right. So sit, Joseph, and get down what Archie has to say.’ The DI jabbed a finger at the chair next to her.

Joseph frowned. ‘Shouldn’t I put a tape in, ma’am?’

‘No, you shouldn’t.’ She looked hard at him. ‘No tapes. Just you and a pencil, okay?’

Now was not the time to argue. Joseph nodded, took out his notebook and obediently began to write.

It took very little time to note the relevant details about Lisa Jane. She had left home, all excited and dressed to party, then disappeared.

‘And you have no idea of who may have taken her, if, of course, that’s what’s happened?’ asked the DI.

‘Of course I have enemies, but not the kind who would do this.’

Honour amongst thieves? thought Joseph. I wonder?

Archie Leonard continued. ‘We wondered if it had something to do with some new outfit that are haunting the Carborough. But …’ Archie raised his eyebrows and shrugged, ‘… to be honest, we don’t even know if they actually exist.’

‘How so?’