All in all, Wynne didn’t think Best would be leaving the country. Where he was going, she didn’t know. But it was important they find him before he got there.

Martin

Sandra’s room was at the end of the corridor. Martin felt dazed as he walked along it, the nurse by his side.

Maggie had been held captive by Best? It was impossible. He’d been at their house. James had been at his house. He was their friend.

He felt sick. If it was true then it meant Best had done more than simply take their daughter. He had taken some perverse pleasure in watching them suffer.

And he still had her.

But she was – or at least might be – alive.

First, though, he had to see Sandra. He put his hand on the door, and pushed it open.

Wynne

There was a knock on the door of DI Wynne’s office. DS Chan walked in. He was holding his car keys.

‘They found it,’ he said. ‘They found Best’s car.’

‘Where?’

‘On the Sparkedge industrial estate. It was parked behind a warehouse. There’s a canal that runs past it and someone was jogging on the towpath. They called it in.’

‘And?’

‘No sign of them. The industrial estate is abandoned. Been that way for years.’

‘Do we have anyone there?’

‘Two officers. Another two are on the way. We’ve also called in the armed response gang. You never know.’

Wynne nodded. ‘Let’s go and check it out.’

Best’s Ford Focus was hidden from the road. Wynne walked around it, taking in the details. Two forensic technicians were working inside it, methodically collecting whatever evidence there was to collect.

She looked around the industrial estate. There was a car park, grass growing through the tarmac where it had buckled and split, and four large buildings, their corrugated rooves rusting. Beyond them was a brown, fetid-smelling canal.

She gestured at the buildings. ‘Have you been in?’

‘All locked up,’ said one of the PCs. He took off his helmet and scratched the back of his head. ‘We’ve contacted the owners. They’re sending someone who can open them.’

‘There may be an entrance,’ Wynne said. ‘A side door, or window.’

‘We had a good look,’ the officer said. ‘But it’s possible.’

‘Let’s have another look,’ Wynne said. ‘Best must have brought them here for a reason.’

They divided the buildings up. Wynne and Chan took the one nearest. There was a double door at the front. The glass was grimy, but they could make out a reception area through it. The name of the company was still on the wall above the desk.

The door was secured by a chain.