‘They pause at the corner, check there’s no one there, and then make a run for Spiller’s car.’ Simon pointed at the screen. ‘Then we lose them until they go out of the school gates.’ He switched to another camera. ‘Here. His car is the red Ford Fiesta, and the number plate is perfectly visible. He’s turned right out of the gates, away from Saltern town. Shall I ring it in, or will you, sir?’

‘Do it now, Simon,’ said Jackman. ‘He’s had far too much of a head start, but we’ll put out an attention drawn, all units.’

Simon made the call.

‘Stand the search team down, Stacey,’ Jackman said, ‘but they’re to remain on the premises — discreetly. I can’t imagine why Spiller would come back, but just in case, they should stay until the school closes for the day.’

Jackman turned back to the headmaster. ‘Mr Lewis, you are free to do whatever your board advises in a case like this. There’s no danger to the other students, and Spiller is long gone, so in my opinion it would probably be best to make an announcement just to allay any fears or rumours, and resume normal classes.’

‘What? Tell them it was a false alarm and that everything is all right?’ Lewis looked dubious.

‘The alternative is to call all the parents and get them to collect their children, which would worry the parents, half of whom will be at work anyway. It’s important that we keep this from the media until my commanding officers have had time to decide how much to divulge and when.’

‘Well, yes, you’re probably right,’ Lewis conceded. ‘If you can assure me that the children are in no further danger.’

‘I’ll be leaving officers here, sir, and I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t believe that there’s no danger to anyone else.’ Jackman looked grim. ‘Spiller has the child he was after and he won’t be back. Now I have to find that youngster and return him to his parents.’ Jackman gathered up the paperwork and asked for the access code to the CCTV, so that the IT section could retrieve what they needed remotely.

On their way out, Marie said, ‘You might want to have a quiet word with that lass, Lindy Hopson, Mr Lewis. She’s a canny girl and could well put two and two together, so be careful what you tell her.’

She and Jackman returned to their car. Marie drove, while Jackman rang Ruth Crooke. Then they sat in silence. Both had similar thoughts. A twelve-year-old boy had willingly climbed into a car with a man he respected and admired. That man was also a ruthless murderer.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN