Puzzlement was giving over to worry. ‘Why is that your biggest concern? That she downplayed this animal rights stuff? She probably downplayed it so as not to worry me or her family. She told me she wanted to change her name because her dad was angry she’d tossed the job, so if it was because of threats from silly activists, it was to avoid worrying me or her parents. Look, leaving London was because of a combination of things, that included. DCI Miller, I don’t like where this is going. You’re not looking for some freaked-out activist with an eight-year grudge, because you don’t think this is about all that, do you?’

‘I don’t know what to think, my friend.’

‘I disagree. You believe that text from her phone, even though one of the kidnappers also sent a stupid text from my phone. You believe it and you think she went AWOL, so the police don’t find out about a dodgy connection to Dominic. So give it to me straight. You think she got this Dominic to help her set this kidnap up.’

In her eyes was a subtle intensity that unnerved him. He could imagine criminals wilting before her in interrogation rooms.

‘She ran away from us all, Nick. Right when you were dumping the money, when everybody was looking elsewhere.’

Worry and suspicion were firing up anger, but he dampened it. ‘She ran when she heard that name, but not for the reason you think. Not because she’s involved in this. She ran because she thinks she knows who took Josie. How can you not see that? How the hell did you become a detective?’

In her eyes there seemed to be sorrow – for him. As if she felt he was naïve, or just stupid. But he suddenly didn’t care. Right then, as he was saying it, he knew the truth.

‘That’s it. Jesus Christ, that’s where she’s gone. That scrapyard.’

He stood up. She copied. ‘You’re staying here, Nick.’

He realised the detective had already made plans to visit Watson-Bruce Salvage in search of Anna. And Josie.

‘You think she’s hiding out there. With my daughter and fifty grand, preparing for a new life. I think hearing the name Watson-Bruce told Anna exactly who’s got our daughter and she’s gone to that scrapyard to save her. Doesn’t matter which, because Josie’s there either way. So you’re going to take me with you. Or I go on my own. Also doesn’t matter which. Because I’m going either way.’

Jane was in the playroom, trying to kill time by working out a jigsaw by feel alone, when Nick entered to say goodbye to her. And: ‘I promise I’ll get Josie back.’

She held out her hand for his. ‘Don’t blame yourself, Nicky.’