They overtook a tractor towing a trailer piled high with freshly dug potatoes. Will stared at it, unseeing. ‘For some reason, I can’t look at things in the way I used to. Back then, I was able to distance myself from a problem and look at it clearly. Kate’s wild imaginings must have infected my thought processes. I’m constantly coming up with different theories, but they all seem slightly mad.’

‘It’s no wonder you can’t think straight. It’s impossible to remain detached when it’s your own family that’s involved. And remember, you are still grieving for your sister. At least with Kate away for a while, you won’t have one eye on the fen all day, trying to look out for her, or wonder what dark image she is creating behind that locked door.’

‘That’s true. Except that now I’ll be scanning that damn marsh for a sign of Sophie.’

After another silence, Sam said, ‘Maybe Matt or I should take Kate’s things back to the clinic for you. It’s probably a good idea if you don’t go back there just yet.’

‘Thanks, Sam, I won’t argue. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.’

They fell once more into silence.

As they turned into the track down to Holland House, Will noticed two police cars outside Gerald Grove’s cottage at the bottom of Tylers Lane.

‘I wonder what is going on down there.’

‘We’ll soon find out,’ Sam said. ‘And look at that! The press, if I’m not mistaken.’

At the end of the lane a group of men and woman with cameras and microphones were standing around.

They were met by a couple of uniforms and a small gaggle of people in anoraks and boots, obviously members of the search party.

‘Any progress?’ Will asked.

‘Not sure, Will.’ A windblown sergeant was standing on one leg, endeavouring to get a piece of grit out of his boot. ‘We had an anonymous call telling us to search old Berridge’s place.’

Will frowned. ‘We saw the cars there on the way in. Did the caller specifically say “Berridge’s place”? That was what the cottage was called back in the old days.’

The officer shrugged. ‘Think so.’

‘Then I would assume it was a local that called it in. Berridge has been dead and gone for years now. Newcomers or strangers wouldn’t know it as that.’

‘Got a point there, Will. He definitely had a Lincolnshire accent.’

‘So, have they found anything, Sarge? The guy who lives there is a nasty character, not quite the kind you want as a neighbour, I must say.’

‘Oh, we know all about Grove, Will. But it rather seems that he was out of the area when the lass was taken.’

‘Convenient.’

Sam interrupted. ‘Look, William, perhaps we should talk to Matt and make arrangements to get Kate’s things out to the clinic, if that’s alright?’