Joey opened the Sierra and they both got in the back. He kissed her hard, pushing his tongue down her throat.

‘Happy New Year, Lizzy.’

She looked up, trying to focus on his brown eyes.

‘Happy New Year, Joey.’ He slipped his hand up her top and she giggled.

‘One moment, please, I’ve got a New Year’s present for you.’

‘What’s that?’ Joey was smiling in the darkness.

Then he felt his trousers being undone and her dark head slipped down on to his lap.

‘Oh, Lizzy. Happy New Year.’

She was wild all right, and he loved it.

George decided to bury the girl’s body in the gravel. Let them look for this one. Let the police earn their bloody money for once. He covered her over and ran the torch around the dirt, checking that he had not left any incriminating clues. Then he walked backwards, scraping the gravel with the side of his boot. He was certainly not going to do their job for them. Oh, no.

He scrambled up the side of the quarry to his car. The heavy thump of acid house music was everywhere. George frowned as he put his mask neatly in the brown carrier bag before driving home.

The youngsters today were like animals. What sort of parents would allow their daughter out until this time of night? There was no decency in the world any more. The family was a thing of the past. In this self-righteous mood he drove home.

Well, he would make them all sit up and take notice. 1990 was going to be his year. He would make all the parents and husbands in Grantley frightened. Then they might take a bit more care instead of allowing young girls to roam the streets like common prostitutes!

A man had to be in charge. It was a man’s duty. And George Markham had never shirked his duty.

He was back home, showered, changed and in bed by eleven forty-five. Elaine tripped in at four thirty and George was well and truly asleep. She felt a moment’s remorse as she looked down at his sleeping face. Then she thought of Hector and smiled. Hector Henderson. She said the name to herself a few times, enjoying the feeling it created. A good strong name. Hector Henderson. He had given her his phone number!

She giggled into her pillow, clenching her fists in excitement. She would ring him in the week.

Finally, Elaine slept.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

‘How long has she been missing?’

‘Since last night. Her mother’s going out of her mind with worry, and I can’t say I blame her, can you? They’ve tried all her friends. Her father had dropped her off at her best friend’s house . . .’

Kate listened attentively to Amanda Dawkins.

‘And she’s never stayed out before? Has she got a boyfriend?’