‘I’ve had a couple of leads but they came to nothing. I’ve got pictures of the children, but I can’t just start hawking them around the other mothers. The husband made it clear that he doesn’t want the fact that he’s looking for them advertised.’ Michaels looked abashed. ‘I hope he doesn’t hear about this little fiasco or I’ll be slung off the job.’

‘I’m sorry about that,’ Jackman said, ‘but I hope you can see things from our point of view. You’ve not exactly been discreet, have you?’

‘I may not have handled this very well, Detective Inspector,’ Michaels said.

‘Let’s say I wouldn’t want you working with me, Mr Michaels.’

Stacey came back in. ‘All checks out, sir.’

‘Thank you, Stacey. Mr Michaels, you may go. Stacey will take you to collect your things. Thank you for your time.’

Jackman went back to the CID room and wiped the words “School Gates Man” off the whiteboard. He then told everyone there to drop that line of investigation. ‘He’s not the man in Simon’s night camera picture, that’s for sure. He’s a PI, and not a very good one.’

Max called out, ‘Boss, Felix Becker has just arrived. We’re off to talk to him.’

‘Great, you do the meet and greet. I’ll be down shortly to look in from the observation room. Get all you can, Max,’ Jackman said. ‘His ex is very important to us.’

‘You got it, boss. Come on, Charlie! Let’s go grill the guy.’

‘I think the word is interview, Max,’ said Jackman dryly.

‘Just my loose interpretation, boss. Never fear, we have it all in hand.’

* * *

Marie had often seen Harriet Burns from the women’s refuge around but had no idea that she worked there. She also knew the older woman next to her. Dulcie was from the village of Sutterthorpe and a stalwart of the local community.

‘I think you already know Dulcie, DS Evans. I asked her to come along because she remembers the young woman you were asking about. She knew Nan and Andrea too. I took over the refuge somewhat later, so she’ll probably be of more assistance than me.’

Though somewhat overweight, Harriet had a perfect complexion, long, dark, lustrous hair and a friendly face. She gave the appearance of being effortlessly in control, a person you instinctively trusted. She would have a calm way with traumatised, desperate, sometimes angry women.

Marie greeted Dulcie and told them as much as she dared about their inquiry.