Laura gave his hand a squeeze. ‘You get back to work now, sweetheart. I’m fine, and Sam’s with me. We know how busy you are, and we’re expecting one of your detectives along any minute to take a statement.’

He sighed. ‘I’m going to have to take you up on that. It’s manic, we’re at a crucial stage. I’ll get you picked up as soon as you can come home.’

Sam shook his head. ‘You forget about us. I’ll keep you abreast of what’s going on, and I’ll get us a taxi home. Just go back to where you’re really needed right now.’

* * *

Jordan Spiller stared at his boy, standing at the water’s edge watching a group of lapwings. He didn’t want to take his eyes off him for one moment, he was far too precious. The boy had been fed a false idea of who and what he was, but he would explain it all, and then they could be happy together, in the time they had left.

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY

Marie was staring at a map of the Fens when Jackman arrived back in the CID room, tracing with a finger the course of the tidal river around Stone Quay. As soon as she saw him, she asked about Laura.

He smiled. ‘It wasn’t exactly an attack. He pushed her and she cracked her head on the path.’

‘Ouch! Poor Laura.’

‘They’ve given her a scan. She has a concussion, but all her signs are good and thank God there’s no bleed.’ He looked at the map behind her. ‘Why the interest in that area?’

‘Andy Forman said Jordan used to spend time at a friend’s “hideaway.” He believed it was located somewhere around Stone Quay. It’s by no means certain, and that stretch of the river winds for miles before it reaches the estuary. Try as I might, I can’t recall any “hideaway” there.’ Marie had avoided the area after her friend died there, and she really didn’t want to go back. But . . . ‘The weather has calmed down, so I thought I might take Tiger along the river path and the sea bank to see if there’s any place out there that fits the bill.’

‘Isn’t it dangerous?’ asked Jackman anxiously. ‘Going off the road like that?’