‘Or perhaps they really aren’t the same person?’ Claire asked.

‘No, I think they’re the same,’ Otara said.

‘There’s one person who will definitely be able to tell us, when she is better.’

‘Sam Gillard?’

‘Yes.’

That was the exact moment when Craig Gillard walked in. The detective chief inspector looked to have aged. His face was gaunt and an unruly stubble shadowed his features.

‘You look awful, Craig,’ Claire said. ‘How’s Sam?’

He blew a sigh. ‘She’s utterly traumatised. It’s going to be a long road back.’

‘Why are you even here?’ Otara asked. ‘You should be getting some sleep and looking after your wife.’

‘Sam’s parents arrived from Keswick this morning, and will be looking after her at our house. A caseworker from Victim Support has been assigned too. I’ve asked Rigby to put me back on the case, part-time, until we find Vanessa Perry. I’m hoping to persuade her that I have unique insight and information, so I’m going up to see her in a few minutes to see if she’ll relent.’

‘Craig,’ Claire said, with exasperation. ‘You only have one unique role that nobody else can do, and that’s looking after Sam and helping her recuperate. She’ll want you more than anybody. I think that’s what you should be concentrating on.’

Gillard thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his bomber jacket. ‘I will do that, but not until we have nailed Gary Harrison for good.’

‘So take a look, Craig,’ Otara said indicating the screen full of images of their suspect. ‘Tell me – is it the same guy?’

Gillard took a look and shrugged. ‘I wish I could tell you. I’ve never seen him face to face.’

DCS Raj Otara called an impromptu update for the incident room at midday. Only half the team were there, the rest being out in the field. Gillard, his request to go back on the case refused by the chief constable, had just departed to return to look after Sam. Claire Mulholland was there, along with DC Carl Hoskins and most of the NCA research crew.

‘Okay everyone, some great work has been done today. First, we discovered the whereabouts of Samantha Gillard, and rescued her.’ There was a round of applause across the room. ‘We have also identified the dark-haired woman recovered from the Warrior. She is Yvonne Fairfield, nineteen, missing for almost four years.’

Claire nodded. ‘It’s solved what for me was a very difficult and under-resourced case. I’m going to see her mother this afternoon, to break the news.’

Otara continued. ‘This is great news, but as you all know, we have more to do. DI Perry’s daughter Vanessa is still missing, and we are increasingly concerned for her safety. We haven’t yet managed to track down our suspect, although we have discovered a burned-out Range Rover near the village of Long Stainton, between Aldershot and Guildford.’

He turned to Research Intelligence Officer Sally Rickard. ‘Sally, how is the trace going?’

‘The phone we’re still on is the one Gabriel Hallam, a.k.a. Kyle Halliday, used to ring Ellen Bramley. It’s been off most of the time, but has lit a few cell towers going west past Aldershot. Clearly it is not in the same vehicle anymore, though the speed of movement shows that it is still in a vehicle of some sort. If we are lucky we may get an ANPR hit while the phone is still on, which might allow us to narrow down the range of possibilities.’