‘Now, I’m afraid we have to ask you to go to the hospital. As we need to keep this under wraps, I suggest you make your own way there. It’s visiting time until 8 p.m., so it won’t look odd, and I’ll meet you. I’ll take you to her through the back corridors.’

‘I understand.’

‘I’ll be in the hospital shop in half an hour.’ said Nikki. ‘Don’t acknowledge me, just buy something, a magazine or some flowers, then follow me out, okay?’

Archie nodded.

‘And I know it goes without saying, but I’m so very sorry.’

The man dropped his head. ‘I know, Nikki. And part of me says that it’s all my fault, if I’d come to you sooner, maybe…?’

Nikki shook her head emphatically. ‘Don’t even begin to think like that. I know we’re still waiting for the official reports, but from what we do know, no one could have helped her. We are sure she was killed when she was first abducted. What we don’t know, is why.’

‘Then we have to find out what’s going on before someone else dies.’ Archie straightened up, and a steely expression of determination swept over his face. ‘I’ll call the family immediately, and I’ll see you at the hospital.’

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

‘I’M KNACKERED!’ NIALL swung the cell door shut on a screaming teenage girl and leaned against it heavily. ‘I swear the girls are worse than the boys!’

Yvonne grinned at him. ‘I have to admit that one was a particularly feisty specimen.’

Niall pulled a face. ‘It would be funny, if Greenborough wasn’t becoming more like a war zone than a peaceful market town. Let’s grab a coffee before we get sent back out there again.’

As they approached the coffee machine, they saw Cat Cullen waving to them.

‘Hey, guys! Got a minute?’

‘Sure, want a coffee?’ answered Niall.

‘No, thanks all the same.’ Cat’s eyes looked abnormally wide. ‘I’ve had so much caffeine in the last twenty-four hours that there’s a good chance I’ll never sleep again! Now, what do you two know about this tasty little geezer?’

She pushed a photograph at them.