‘On my way, boss.’

‘Jay, I want you and Stacey with us.’

Marie was already pulling her jacket on.

* * *

They drove across Saltern on blaring two-tones.

‘Ah, shit! Our worst nightmare,’ murmured Marie. ‘He’s finally stepped up his game.’

‘At least we now know what his endgame is,’ said Jackman. ‘We always thought something like this might be on the cards, but damn it, we’re one step behind him as usual.’

The school was smallish and modern: single storey, open plan with lots of glass. The various teaching spaces were divided from one another with brightly coloured panels — science labs, art rooms and the gymnasium. Marie seemed to recall that it had won an award for educational design.

As soon as they arrived, they were hurried to the headmaster’s office.

Without preamble, Jackman asked for a concise statement of exactly what had happened.

The head, a Mr Jonathan Lewis, asked them to sit and, his face still showing the shock of what had happened, gave them the story.

‘We were made aware by yourselves and the parents that there was a small possibility that young Davy might have attracted the attention of someone who intended doing him harm, so we increased our security — without drawing attention to it, as we had no wish to frighten the pupils.’ He looked from Marie to Jackman. ‘All our staff had been instructed to keep an eye on Davy, and we raised the alarm at once when he failed to attend his second class of the morning.’

‘He was present for the first one?’ asked Jackman.

‘Yes, he’s never late and always commits fully to the subjects that interest him. He’s a studious boy, Detective Inspector, not a particularly gregarious one, but generally liked and respected for his love of nature.’ The head began to pace his office. ‘He left the first class, which was English with Miss Dawson, but failed to report to Mr Cooke for science.’

‘And none of his classmates saw him go?’ asked Marie, slightly incredulously.

‘The science block is some way away, in a different area. Plus, after each class, there is a small amount of time allowed for pupils to speak to their teacher if necessary or use the toilet facilities. We are an academy, Officers, and as such are able to set our curriculum according to the needs of the students. Davy wasn’t part of a group and didn’t have any particular friends. As I said, he was not a gregarious child. He would have gone on his own. It doesn’t surprise me that he wasn’t noticed.’

‘And the entire school has been searched?’ Jackman asked.