‘Maybe like isn’t quite the word I’d use, but as you said before, our paths have crossed in the past. A while ago he helped me out with something …’ she shrugged, ‘… and although I was able to reciprocate on another occasion, I still feel I owe him.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Whatever, he loves Lisa Jane and he’s distraught about her, and we have to do all we can to find her.’

‘Naturally. A missing girl is a missing girl, no matter what her background,’ said Joseph.

‘Of course, but the politics of this could be a minefield, and I don’t want anyone telling me how to run the enquiry.’ She abruptly stood up and her face was set with a grim determination. ‘I’m going to see the Super, and beg him to keep this from the press. And the longer he can sit on it, the better.’ She walked to the door, then turned back to him. ‘This may have nothing whatsoever to do with the disappearance of Kerry Anderson. Apart from this possible new gang, Archie has made a lot of enemies in his lifetime. One of them may be less honourable than he thinks and may have decided it’s payback time …’ she paused, ‘… but no matter how simple that sounds, my gut says different. How say you?’

Joseph didn’t even need to think about his answer. ‘Two missing girls. Same time frame, same area; too much of a coincidence. I believe they are connected, ma’am. My gut says the same as yours.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

AFTER SEEING THE superintendent, Nikki decided that she needed to pay another visit to Barnby Eaudyke and Kris Brown.

As she drove, Joseph stared out across the miles of flat, open fields that edged the marsh.

‘Do you really like this place?’ he asked.

‘It’s my home. I love it,’ replied Nikki simply.

Joseph nodded. ‘I guess seeing 360 degrees of sky has its good points, but don’t you find it a tad …’ he looked for the right word, ‘… overpowering?’

Nikki shrugged and gently reduced her speed as they approached a humpback bridge over a dyke. ‘You can breathe out here. When I was a probationer and I’d had a bad shift, I’d go up to the sea-bank, be on my own and get my head back together. I know exactly why young Kerry likes to go there.’

‘Or, she did. It looks like her last trip could have been a bad, if not fatal, mistake.’

Nikki drew in a long breath. ‘Let’s just stick to the premise that as we don’t have a body, she’s still alive, shall we?’

‘I want to believe that. It’s just that time is slipping away, and—’

‘No need to go on. I’m fully aware of the ticking clock, and the statistics regarding missing youngsters.’ She gritted her teeth, then said. ‘I wonder if Kris Brown knows Lisa Jane Leonard?’