There will be travel restrictions soon, like in other countries. They will be here before long, and who knows how long they will last? I had to act, now.

The plan was to take one kid. Pick him or her up from the garden, or as they were walking to the corner shop.

It was just luck that had presented all three.

Another four hours back to the lake house, on the motorbike I’d taken up in the back of the van. Small, but does the job.

I towed it back up North on Saturday afternoon, on a trailer hooked up to the Audi. It was how I got around while I was up there. No one recognizes you under a helmet. It’s very useful. You can get very close to people, and they have no idea you’re there. The bike’s at the truck stop now. They might find it, one day, and trace it back to one Andrew Stephenson, of Skegness. Which won’t help them.

‘What was the meeting in Brighton?’ the detective asks.

‘It was to plan a literary festival. I was offering to do a talk on how to get an agent.’

‘What time did that end?’

‘About midday.’

‘And then?’

‘Back to the lake house.’

‘Did anyone see you there?’

‘I’m afraid not.’ I put a regretful tone into my voice. ‘It’s quite remote.’

‘There might be someone,’ Wynne said. ‘We’ll ask around.’

Wynne

DI Wynne cut the connection. Dudek glanced at her.

‘Anything?’ he said.

She looked at the screen of her phone. It was dark, and her face looked back at her. There were no answers there.

‘No. He’s known her for years. Since they were teenagers. They’re good friends.’

‘Ever more than that?’

‘He said not.’

‘Believe him?’ Dudek said.

‘I think so. Even if there was something, it was a long time ago.’

‘He could have been secretly in love with her, all along,’ Dudek said, then shrugged. ‘I know. Clutching at straws.’

‘And he has an alibi,’ Wynne said. ‘He was in Brighton on Saturday at a literary thing. Until midday, at least. I’ll check it, but I don’t think it’s him.’

Dudek’s phone rang. He picked it up. ‘Forensics,’ he said. ‘They might have something on the cars.’

Wynne held her hand out. ‘I’ll take it,’ she said. ‘No talking while driving.’

Matt

The kids were asleep. At different points during the night all three of them had been awake. Molly was first; around one in the morning she came into his room. He was awake anyway; he held out his arms and she climbed into bed with him.

Where’s Mummy?

She’s still gone.

I thought you were going to find her?