‘Not yet. The weather hasn’t helped. Most people are tucked up in their homes, not walking around the streets. It’s going to be difficult to find a witness who saw anything in Ickleton.’

‘Difficult yes.’ Barrett stopped and put his long bony finger in the air. ‘But not impossible. Keep digging.’

‘Shall I stay here and continue doing that or do you want me to go with Singh down to the control room?’ Behind her back Elly crossed her fingers.

‘Do I have to make every decision myself? Show some initiative.’ Barrett waved her away and Elly returned to the incident room knowing full well she had no intention of spending the next few days cooped up in the dingy control room. Singh, unbeknownst to him, had drawn the short straw.

Palmer was sitting at his desk, with a serious expression carved onto his face. Elly spotted him from the other side of the room and decided to share the development with him before delivering the bad news to Singh.

‘What’s up?’ She sat on the edge of his desk, her pencil skirt tight on her thighs as she crossed her legs.

Palmer straightened in his seat, doing his best to ignore her curves. ‘I’ve just got off the phone to the French police. It seems Andrew Wade is still nowhere to be seen. An APB has been sent out to all the hospitals and businesses in the local area, where he was last seen, but no one has reported any sightings.’

‘You think he’s guilty?’ Elly cocked her head, letting her poker-straight espresso-coloured hair fall down over one of her shoulders.

‘No, I don’t. But I think the sooner we bring him in the sooner we can dismiss him from this enquiry.’

‘He does have a motive,’ Elly said thoughtfully.

‘For Dennis Wade, yes, but Matlock? I don’t think so.’ Palmer shook his head to emphasise the point while trying to dismiss the idea that Elly might be deliberately flirting with him.

‘Still nothing to link the victims?’ She tucked her hair behind her ear.

‘No,’ Palmer grunted. ‘Not a sodding thing.’

Chapter 14

2.50pm Tuesday 17th December

Veronica sat listening to Francesca talk about her memories of Natalie as a small child. Natalie, unlike Andrew, had been popular and liked. She had been a pretty child with blonde hair, which her mother often used to put up in a French plait. She wasn’t exactly academic, but she was clever, and her artistic flair blossomed early. Where her artistic ability came from no one quite knew. Neither Doug nor Francesca could ever be accused of having such talents. Doug had been a primary school science teacher and Francesca used to work in a doctor’s surgery on reception. The position suited her well. She was organised, efficient and enjoyed the small amount of power the role gave her.