The man’s eyes widened. He took a step closer to the screen and peered at the image there. Stepping away, he raised a hand, swiping the mobile from Connie’s hand and sending it flying.

Grabbing him by the collar, Connie pulled him towards her.

‘Was that him?’ she asked.

He shrugged and muttered.

‘You want the money, you look at me and tell me if that picture looks like the man.’

‘Is he real? I thought maybe I’d imagined him, then I saw the blood,’ the man whispered.

‘He’s real,’ Connie said, thrusting the money at him. ‘Now, give the nice officer a statement and you can go.’

‘Ma’am, I need to see the photo so we know who we’re looking for,’ the officer said.

Connie held up her mobile.

‘What is that?’ the officer asked.

‘That …’ Connie sighed, ‘… is a character from a kid’s movie. Apparently, we’re looking for a goddamn cartoon.’

‘Better find him before he kills that other one, too,’ the man mumbled as he hid the twenty away inside his shoe.

Connie and the police officer turned in unison.

‘What did you say?’ Connie asked.

‘Other one. The one he took. Poor bastard. Dragged him backwards in his wheelchair.’

The officer was on her radio in a heartbeat. ‘All units, we have an active kidnapping situation …’

Connie waited for the uniformed police to gather the remaining details about the victim, then got Baarda on the mobile.

‘He’s done it again, and now I’m certain he took Meggy. I need you to get me some TV coverage straight away.’

‘Sightings of his car?’ Baarda asked.

‘Nothing. Small car park, no CCTV – he must have checked it out. It’s pretty dark around here and industrial, so no dwellings overlooking the car park. Probably why he kidnapped this victim from here rather than at his home, which is an assisted housing unit, so there’d be people there around the clock.’

‘Clever bastard,’ Baarda said. ‘One moment.’

Baarda began speaking on a radio. Connie listened in.

‘All units, be aware. There is a kidnapping in progress. The kidnapper is a single white male, who may be driving erratically. Sounds may be heard in the boot of a vehicle. Inform other agencies – include accessible undercover officers, paramedics, fire service. I want a stop-and-search on every major route out of the area. All cars with single male occupants to be stopped and searched over the next four hours.’

‘That’s a huge task,’ Connie said when he was back on the line with her.

‘What are our chances of success?’ Baarda asked.

‘Doesn’t help if I’m negative.’

‘I prefer honesty. Say what you’re thinking,’ Baarda said.