‘I think so,’ Bex says, out of breath.

They confirm what they’ve both remembered. Bex writes the number down on the back of her hand with a biro as Jake calls DI Hart on his mobile to tell him what’s just happened.

‘She was definitely not going willingly,’ Jake says.

‘Number plate?’ Hart asks.

Bex holds up her hand. He reads it out to Hart, glancing around him. Someone else is coming out of the apartment door. A tall, dignified Asian man with an attaché case in one hand.

‘Dr Varma?’ Bex asks the man tentatively. He clearly recognises Bex but tries to ignore her as he walks off down the street.

‘I’ve got to go,’ Jake says to Hart, hanging up.

‘Dr Varma?’ Bex says again, following the man like a reporter in pursuit of a politician. ‘What’s wrong with Kate? We saw her get into a car just now and she didn’t look too happy.’

‘I’m late for another appointment,’ the man says, almost breaking into a run.

Bex is undeterred and grabs the man by his arm. He stops, visibly shocked by the physical contact. He looks down at his arm and then at Jake, who’s caught up with them. Bex has mentioned the neuropsychiatrist that Kate’s been seeing, how good he is. This must be him. Jake moves around to stand in his way, in case he tries to make a run for it.

‘What’s going on?’ Bex asks. ‘With Kate? Where was she going?’

Dr Varma scans the street, shifts his feet. He couldn’t look more guilty if he tried.

‘Is Rob in the flat?’ Jake asks, gesturing up at the building behind them.

Dr Varma shakes his head.

‘Where is he?’ Jake says.

‘I can’t say anything,’ Dr Varma says, still staring at the pavement. He then looks up at Bex. ‘You have no idea who you’re dealing with here. If he knew I was even talking to you now, he’d—’

‘Who?’ Jake says, interrupting him. ‘Who are we dealing with?’

Dr Varma bites his lip. ‘I can’t tell you anything, I’m sorry. I have two children. A wife.’

Jake is unable to control himself any longer. He checks the deserted street, then grabs Dr Varma by the lapels of his suit jacket and rams him up against the wall.

‘Jake!’ Bex protests, but he’s beyond listening.

‘You need to tell us now where Kate’s been taken,’ he says, his face close to Dr Varma’s. Jake is not a violent man, but the last six months seem to have suddenly caught up with him, all the anger for being so stupid that day with a stranger in Swindon, the hatred he feels for Rob, the boat fire.