This surprised Joanna, who had unwittingly broken the first rule of policing: she had assumed Franks was dead because it had been several hours since the leak was spotted, because it was freezing in the flat, because of the blood and the fact that he was lying in a full tub of water. Mostly because it looked so much like a dead body, and she’d seen more than a few in her time.

The paramedic lifted Gregor’s head out of the water. “Head trauma. That’s where he’s bleeding.”

Jo spoke into the radio. “Control, update on the situation in Apartment 7 in the North block on the New Park estate. We have a casualty. Repeat: there is one casualty, serious trauma protocol please, head injury, severe blood loss is evident. Unconscious male, positive for signs of life.”

Over the radio, Sergeant Murray said, “Copy that, Jo. Any suspects present?”

“No. It’s not clear what we’re dealing with yet, whether there’s anyone else involved. Stand by for update.”

“Received, standing by.”

The paramedic said, “Gregor, we’re going to get you out of the bath now. Can you hear me, Gregor?”

He rolled up a sleeve and pulled the plug in the bath, letting the water out. Then he turned to Atkinson. “Get some blankets or something. The duvet off the bed. And help us lift him out, would you? Both of you—we’ll need all of us to do it safely.”

As the icy pink bathwater swirled away, the two police officers made a soft bed of blankets on the bathroom floor. Harper placed a hand under the man’s head as the four of them lifted him out, and was surprised at the sensation of sponginess, an area of skull that should have been smooth and hard but instead felt like wet cake in her palm.

CHAPTER

5

NOW

Ruby

Friday, December 21

NOW THAT SHE was Constance to the social worker, Ruby thought maybe Diane would make some comment about the name. When Ruby had first met Constance, she’d done it herself. It was unusual. Old-fashioned.

Diane noted it down, then returned her cool eyes to Ruby’s.

“And your daughter’s name?”

“Didn’t she tell you?” said Ruby. “Only, she’s not shy usually. She’ll talk to anyone, wander off with anyone. Doesn’t see danger. That’s how come I lost her. She’s quick too.”

Stay calm, she told herself. All she had to do was get Leonie and run, slip away so quickly that the police and Social Services had no chance to realize there was anything out of the ordinary happening.

“It didn’t take the police long to get here, did it?” said Ruby in what she hoped was an admiring tone rather than one of criticism. “The patrol must have been parked up around the corner. Very … reassuring.”

Diane blinked. “What’s your daughter’s name, please?”