‘If you really want to know, call a station about the Disclosure scheme. I’m not about to tell you where these people live so you can go strong-arm every single one of them. What you did was wrong, and you could have got in serious trouble.’

‘Yes, that’s my biggest worry right now.’

‘Nick, all you did was sidetrack everyone for half an hour. And maybe caused some damage. Our door-knocking teams are being very secretive so word doesn’t spread, and you might have ruined that if you mentioned a missing child. What did you tell those two work colleagues who helped you?’

‘Don’t worry. I didn’t say my daughter was missing. I told them that sick bastard was spotted hanging around her school and needed to be informed what a bad idea that was.’

‘Unfortunately, Nick, I was told you accused your victim of taking her. So your vigilante friends have been arrested and we’ll have to keep them at the station for a good part of the day. To maintain their silence. We’ll see if you’re all still friends afterwards.’

‘My new biggest worry, of course.’

‘I don’t mean to moan at you, Nick. I just want you to let us do our jobs. Now, let’s go back to your house and wait for the next phone call. Your father-in-law has the money ready. And gargle some mouthwash or something before you talk to your wife.’

Nick turned his head so he wouldn’t breathe more vodka fumes on the detective; he’d swigged from a bottle in the child molester’s house, and wasn’t even sure why – Dutch courage? He wished he had more. ‘And I’m sure her dad’s asked if his money will be insured. He’ll make us pay it back. What’s to stop these people just taking the money and killing my girl? I mean, how many kidnapped kids actually get returned? Are we supposed to just trust them?’

‘At the minute, that’s all we can do.’

When Nick came back into the house, Anna was waiting at the door. They stood awkwardly, as if not sure whether to hug.

‘That was risky. Don’t do something like that again. I want you here, Nick. You stay with me, okay? We stay with each other until we get Josie back.’

And then you’ll kick me out of the house, he wanted to say. But chose instead: ‘It’s about time someone did something. The police seem to be just sitting around.’

‘And attacking child molesters is the way to do things, is it?’

Both of them turned their heads at the intrusive voice. It was DC Nabi, but they couldn’t see him. Then the toilet flushed, and he walked out.

‘What did you say?’ Nick hissed.

But the detective walked away, shaking his head.

‘What’s his problem?’ Nick said.