She tried to visualise the lanes but failed. From the map, it wasn’t an area you would particularly want to visit. The lane went nowhere, ending at the river. It wasn’t a beauty spot, had no car park, nothing. This was further out than she’d been on her bike. She hurried out into the office and searched her computer for the satellite image.

‘Come on, come on,’ she urged as it slowly downloaded. ‘Okay, so here’s the bird reserve.’ She followed the route they’d been given and found the sluice, the lane, and then the river. She zoomed in closer. Yes! ‘There’s something here, boss!’ she called out. ‘It’s not very clear, but there’s a small building right up by the creek.’

‘Now we have a dilemma.’ Jackman stood behind her, staring at her screen. ‘Do we just get out there, mob-handed, and try to rescue Davy Frances, or should I get the drone unit to do a recce first? That would be my first choice, except that Spiller might spot it. They aren’t terribly noisy, certainly nothing like the helicopter, but out there, you could well hear it.’

‘And then he could run, taking the boy with him,’ said Marie. ‘Or worse.’

‘Exactly.’ He stood for a while, pondering. ‘I hate to do this, but I think I’m going to leave the decision to Ruth. After all, if we cock up, she carries the can. Plus, she needs to authorise the manpower and backup for the operation. Maybe it should be down to her.’

Marie grunted, her eyes still on the satellite map.

‘I know that look, Evans,’ said Jackman warily. ‘What’s worrying you?’

‘I think I might have been there before.’ She looked closer. ‘Well, not there exactly, but over here.’ She pointed to a place on the map marked End Point, about a quarter of a mile from where they believed Spiller to be. It was right on the edge of the estuary and had a flat pier where small craft could anchor up. ‘I went there on obbo once when we were looking for smugglers. The thing is, there’s a farm track and then a lane that leads down to End Point. It’s pretty rough, but we made it easily in a 4x4. I think the track connects up with the river lane.’ She moved the map and pointed again. ‘Look, there! That means there are two ways in and two ways out. And the track I was telling you about is flat as a witch’s tit — he’d see us coming a mile away.’

‘So, we’d need to approach using the route that Christopher’s given us?’

‘Absolutely. That way has the high sea banks and steep drains and culverts to shield you from view. Plus, that’s the way Spiller used to go, so he probably still does. But does he know about the rough track to End Point?’