‘Tiger likes going off-road. She’s built for both the tarmac and the rougher tracks. She’s tackled far tougher terrain than the sea bank, and it would take for ever to send a crew out there on foot. I’ll go after work. It might well be a fool’s errand, so if I’m off duty, no time will have been lost.’ She went back to her workstation. ‘Meanwhile, everyone is hard at it chasing up the new info that Andy gave us. Robbie is trying to find anything he can on an RTC involving a child, and Gary and Kevin are trying to trace where Claire might have gone after Skegness. Max and Charlie have been quizzing the boys who knew “Mr Edwards” in case he might have mentioned anything that could lead us to where he’s taken Davy.’

‘Have we heard from the crew who went to Cartoft Manor?’ asked Jackman.

‘Stacey and Jay just rang in, and it’s exactly as Andy said — deserted, with a bit of his furniture left and a load of packing boxes. The neighbour from the flat above told them he hadn’t seen Mr Edwards for ages, although he admits he works shifts. They got a key from the owners of the manor, and they’re doing a fingertip search right now.’ She looked at the clock. ‘I was going to give them a hand, but as I’m going biking, I’d better get away, if that’s all right?’

Jackman nodded. ‘Just take care. If you come off, it’s either head first into the marsh, or the river, or straight down the bank, and you can’t get an ambulance out there.’

‘All right, Dad.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll be careful — Guides’ honour!’

‘You were never a Girl Guide!’

She smiled smugly. ‘So what? I might have been. I’d have been a brilliant one too.’

Jackman shook his head at her and smiled. ‘I think I’ll go and join Stacey and Jay for a while. I’d like to take a look through Jordan Spiller’s belongings. And I need to know how the lads here might feel about a spot of overtime tonight.’

‘Offer them a takeaway, boss. In fact, I’ll do my recce and come back and join you. Save me some.’

‘Marie,’ he said, his smile gone, ‘ring me if you see anything that looks remotely like Jordan’s hideout, okay? Do not approach any habitation or person alone. I mean it. No heroics.’

‘Of course I’ll ring. There’s that little lad to think of. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise his safety, you know that.’

‘I do, but just be careful, Marie Evans.’

She laughed, gathered up her things and prayed the rain would not return before nightfall.

* * *

‘Sure, boss, I’m here for the duration,’ said Robbie rather morosely. ‘There’s nothing at home for me right now anyway.’