DS Bennet thanked the doctor and left the hospital to make his way to the Dene Court apartment, on the other side of Leeds.

It was an impressive building, a waterside conversion on the River Aire, popular with young professional singles. There was a door-entry system and intercoms to each apartment. Dave pressed the buzzer for Apartment 2. There was no answer. He tried again, still without success. Finally, he pushed the buzzer marked ‘caretaker’ who apparently lived in Apartment 1. It was answered immediately and when he said he was a police officer the door was opened to allow him inside.

The caretaker, a middle-aged man, overweight, with a bald head and wire-rimmed glasses, came out of his apartment to meet Dave, who produced his ID and asked about the occupant of Apartment 2.

‘Ah, the lovely Chrissy. I’m afraid she’s gone – left without a word, a forwarding address, or even a goodbye. I think there could have been man trouble there.’ The caretaker tapped the side of his nose with his finger.

Dave sensed the man was dying to tell him. ‘What makes you think that?’

‘When she first moved in, there was this gent, rather well-to-do sort. He visited a couple of times a week, maybe more. Then another guy turns up one day, a rough sort this one, and they have a blazing row. The air turned blue, believe me. But then he went and shortly after the posh gent stopped coming. Next thing I know she’s gone, no notice, not even thanks and goodbye.’

‘Did she have other friends, girlfriends, parents perhaps?’

‘No one I ever saw – kept herself to herself generally. I tried to offer my services when she moved in, you know, to help with any little jobs about the place but she refused – didn’t even want to enter into conversation.’

The caretaker knew nothing of importance. Chrissy had long since departed, which Dave expected – and with no trail to follow.

Thanking the man for his help Dave returned to his car and made a call to Alex Radford. ‘Alex, how are things?’

‘Good, Dave, I was going to ring you – we’ve got our boy back!’

‘Great, is he okay?’

‘Yes, physically he’s well, but who knows what psychological scars he’ll carry. Sadly though, another boy was shot and killed. We think he had some connection to the kidnappers, or at least his mother did. I’m actually at the hospital now. Danny’s being checked over by the medics before we can talk to him. Shall I ring you this evening to update you?’

‘That would be great, but I think there’s something you need to know first. I visited Hayley’s parents earlier today and apparently they’ve separated since the kidnapping. Dr Parks was having an affair.’

Dave had Alex’s full attention. ‘Did he give you a name, address, anything?’