‘Yes, I think you’re right.’ The woman nodded as a strand of hair freed itself from her bun. ‘He did have a golf buddy called Dennis a while back. Not heard him mention him for years though.’ She spoke with a slight lisp due to the fact she had a rather large tongue piercing.

Palmer struggled to see how Susan could be the woman’s mother. Although they shared similar features, Susan was dowdy in her appearance and her daughter was the opposite.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,’ Barrett cut in.

‘I’m Marie.’ Her eyes were fixed on her mother’s face.

‘Is there any way you might be able to find out Dennis’s surname?’

‘Dad’s old diaries!’ Marie said all of a sudden. ‘He’s very particular and keeps all his old diaries. It will take a while to find the right one but if his surname is anywhere, it will be in there. Where are they, Mum?’ she said turning to look at her mother who had returned to staring down at her fingers.

‘In a box. In the attic,’ she said vaguely.

‘Why is this person cutting people’s fingers off?’ Susan looked up at Palmer.

‘We don’t know yet.’ It pained him to admit it.

‘Would you like me to go up into the attic?’ Barrett asked standing up.

‘No, I’ll do it later.’ Marie looked at him with distrust.

‘We need that name as soon as possible. I would rather take the diaries with me now so that my team can start going through them.’

‘You’re not taking them.’ She half laughed. ‘They don’t belong to you. I’ll look through them and let you know when I find the name.’

‘I’m sorry if you think I am being pushy, but your father is in serious danger. We don’t have time to spare.’

‘You can have them,’ Susan told him resting her hand on her daughter’s arm and squeezing it. ‘We just want him back.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Kilpatrick.’

‘There is a ladder in the garden shed. Somewhere in the attic you’ll find a box which has diaries written on it in large letters.’

Barrett nodded and headed out of the back door and into the garden to retrieve the ladder just as the rain started to pour. He’d forgotten he had taken his shoes off and returned with soaking wet socks and a look of irritation. If the situation hadn’t been so grave, Palmer might have laughed.

After manoeuvring the ladder through the kitchen and up the stairs Barrett found himself poking about in a large dark attic. It was the most ordered attic he had ever been in and it didn’t take long to identify the box Susan told him about.