‘That’s right,’ said Vern, apparently not detecting Li’s astonishment. ‘I love to poke people. Now then, Rose . . . Rose . . . Here we are. You’ve a bit of a way to travel, mind. She lives down south now, although I’m not exactly sure where. Head teacher of a little primary school down there. Guess the police life didn’t suit. I’ll put you in touch.’

‘Thank you,’ said Georgie; the idea of the bearded curator poking people on Facebook had brought a smile to her face.

‘Right, I’ve messaged her. Now, anyway, what’s this all about?’ asked Vern. ‘Why all the interest in the girl of Devil’s Point?’

Georgie stared vacantly out across the room, past the corridors of bookshelves to the far wall. She had performed some age calculations and the dates fitted the profile she was beginning to build. They were getting closer to the truth; she could feel it. ‘We’re interested because I don’t think the sea took the girl of Devil’s Point. I think she’s still alive.’

Chapter 52

Chapter 52

On the phone, Priest listened to Georgie’s account of what she had unearthed at the Records Office with a mixture of trepidation and intrigue. The incident was reported at roughly the same time as the Eliases’ abandonment of their Norfolk home.

‘When we went for coffee, Elinor Fox told me that she used to live in Norfolk, by the sea,’ Georgie explained excitedly. ‘If the girl at Devil’s Point were still alive, she’d be Fox’s age, and they have the same hair colour.’

‘If she’s even real,’ Priest pointed out. It was a possibility, he had to admit, but it wasn’t clear how it all fitted together.

‘I think we should check out the Elias house again,’ Georgie said. ‘We never really looked at it properly the last time around. Things were kind of overtaken by finding Alexia. Do you think the police will still be there?’

‘Doubtful. They might have put a PC on the door for twenty-four hours, but budget constraints and the remoteness of the site make it unlikely they’ll keep a presence there for much longer. They might have set up cameras instead. I suggest you come back here.’

‘OK.’ Georgie sounded uncertain and Priest suspected she was searching for an excuse. She was going to the Elias house whether he told her not to or otherwise. ‘We might just pick up a bite to eat on the way—’

‘Georgie,’ he cut her off. ‘Listen, the cameras will be set up facing the house and in the front entrance. There’ll be three and no more: they won’t have the whole place covered, it’s not practical. Go in the back and stay out of the front hallway.’

‘Thanks, Charlie. I’ll phone you as soon as we’re done.’

‘Who’s we?’ Priest asked warily.

‘Li, my flatmate. She drove me here.’