‘Right, then I’ll start up there, Dr Archer. I’ll get fresh linen on the bed and prepare the room. And I’ll try not to get in your way today.’

Laura smiled. ‘Don’t worry about us, we’re going over to the consulting room later. Just do what you normally do, and we’ll be there if you need us.’

Hetty stopped in the doorway. ‘Forgive me for asking, but have they found that poor Jordan Spiller? I’ve been worrying all night about that man.’

‘Not yet, Hetty,’ said Laura, ‘but I’m sure Rowan will tell you as soon as he knows anything. He said you’d been a great help to him.’

‘Poor lad,’ Hetty said. ‘I can’t help thinking it ain’t right what the good Lord dishes out to some folks.’

Did she mean Jordan or Teddy? Sam wondered. Same difference really, they were both messed up through no fault of their own. Though it seemed that Jordan had decided on more deadly means for handling his problems.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Just before they left Stone Quay, Marie took Jackman aside. ‘Humour me on this one, Jackman. Tell someone to get a Stinger down to End Point. Have it placed across the entrance from the track to the quay’s hardstanding area. And keep it well out of sight.’

He looked at her briefly, then hurried over to the officer in charge of the uniformed team.

Hearing him issue the request, Marie felt better, but only a bit. She had part of a conversation going around in her head, something Andy Forman had said in their second talk with him. It had been haunting her since she rode across to the Fen to this place. It would mean nothing if they succeeded in getting into that shack area and securing both Jordan and Davy, but should they escape together it could mean everything.

Jackman raised his arm, and at once a dozen pairs of eyes were fastened on him. ‘To your vehicles. We’re moving out. And do the last stretch as quietly as possible, no revving engines and no hitting the blues and twos on pain of death!’

* * *

Before long, the team had pulled in, and Marie dismounted and pushed Tiger for the last one hundred metres.

They couldn’t yet see the Hideaway or the small area around it. Their view was obstructed by a high man-made grassy berm that flanked one of the tributary water courses that flowed into the river. There was a small parking area, used by the waterways maintenance workers, and from there the lane led directly to the creek and the lonely little hut.

The drone was sent up, and soon they had their images. ‘There are a lot of heat sources,’ the drone pilot whispered.

Marie threw a puzzled glance at Jackman. ‘How come?’