The smaller bedroom, Jordan’s room, is as neat as a nine-year-old’s bedroom could ever be. There are superhero posters on the walls, stuffed toys, various robots on top of the bed and Lego scattered across the floor.

She runs the beam around the living room. On the walls are pictures of Elaine, Jordan and the man she recognises from Elaine’s Facebook profile – Frank Kelly. Archer is reminded again of how much older he is. Nearly twice her age, grey-haired with a ruddy and bloated face. He was clearly punching above his weight.

Fitted to the wall is an enormous flatscreen television that seems just too big for this modest space. Below it is a fake fireplace, the focal point of the room, and lined across the mantelpiece are small ornaments of birds and some of Jordan’s toys.

Neither Frank nor Jordan are in the flat and there is little more to see. Archer and Quinn retreat outside to avoid further contamination. Archer pulls back her hood and mask.

‘Anything from the pubs?’

‘Yeah. He’s been seen drinking in the two I visited. One landlord said he was there on Sunday with a young woman and a baby. She didn’t fit Elaine’s description.’

‘No Jordan?’

‘No, just the three of them.’

‘I wonder who she is.’

‘Anyone’s guess at this point.’

‘Jordan can’t be with his father then, unless he left him with someone else on the Sunday.’

‘I get the sense Kelly isn’t the doting father type.’

Archer bites her lip. ‘I’m worried about Jordan. I’ll call Klara and get her to do some rooting around Elaine’s contacts. Perhaps someone knows something. Could you talk to Os and ask him to prepare a missing persons profile for Jordan? If nothing comes through from Klara’s search I want that profile posted on our social media and passed to the press immediately.’

It takes an hour for the SOCO team to show up and in that time Archer and Quinn have phoned through their instructions to Os and Klara. They have also knocked on doors and spoken to Mr Kumar, his family and the other neighbours. No one has heard or seen anything. @nonymous appeared quiet as a ghost, left his mark and disappeared without trace.

Chapter 32

32

GUILT NIGGLES AT ARCHER, WHO has been unable visit her Grandad because of the demands of the investigation. Late in the evening she has a quick call with the nurse, who asks if she will be there tomorrow to take him home. Archer hesitates before answering, reasoning with herself that the unpredictability of the investigation might result in a no show, but shame overcomes her. This is her lovely, ailing Grandad who has no one but her.

‘Yes, yes, of course, what time?’

‘We’ll aim for midday, but best to call in the morning and we’ll confirm.’