They pulled up across from the lone vehicle, a Toyota Avensis. Lane’s taxi-plate licence was registered to the make and model of the car they were looking at now.

‘That’s the right reg.’ Willie said.

Tom and Ray directed their torches and weapons at the vehicle, advancing towards it cautiously.

It was empty.

The sound of another car attracted their attention. Michael and Bridget had arrived. The inspector had left Brian in charge of a team at Lane’s house as a precautionary measure.

‘What’s the plan?’ Michael said, as he jumped from the car.

‘We have to assume he’s in these woods,’ Tom said. ‘Unless he’s playing games with us. There are reinforcements coming but we need to go in now and start a search. We don’t know what sort of weapons he has, if any, but let’s keep ours primed. We’ll split up to help speed things up. Bar you two,’ he nodded at the uniformed guards. ‘You’re not armed, so stay together and radio through if you spot anything. Do not approach him.’

The two officers nodded.

‘I’m coming,’ Willie said.

‘Go with the uniforms,’ Tom sighed. There was little point in telling his driver to stay in the car. Willie was a trained guard. He wouldn’t be sitting this one out.

‘Are you alright?’ the inspector asked Ray, as they pulled on their Kevlar vests.

Ray nodded.

‘I’d finally asked her out,’ he said, his face grim. ‘She said yes, Tom. Ten months it’s taken me, since I messed it up the first time. And every day, every night since then, I’ve thought about her. Watching her as she worked, noticing all the things I’d never noticed before. Like how bloody beautiful she is.’ Ray rubbed roughly at his eyes. ‘Sorry, you don’t want to be listening to this shit. I sound like an idiot. I sound like a bloody stalker.’

Tom strapped the sides of his vest together.

‘We’ll find her, Ray.’

His deputy nodded, unable to meet the inspector’s eyes.

They separated off the main trail in five different directions. Their radios were set on the lowest volume so they could communicate without alerting the suspect to their presence.

Tom could hear his heart thumping in his chest as he made his way across the fern-strewn ground. The officers at the scene had been correct – the woods were visitor-friendly, plenty of trails between the trees, which also meant the moon’s light broke through and made the job of walking easier.