The reception area is empty, and a uniformed officer comes to the front desk to greet us. She looks about my age.

‘Celia!’ The officer smiles at my mother-in-law. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m fine thanks, Mandy. How’s your little one doing? Her arm healing up okay?’

‘Should be out of plaster by Christmas, fingers crossed.’

Celia turns to me. ‘Mandy’s daughter broke her arm a few weeks ago. I was one of the nurses on duty when it happened.’

‘Sorry to hear that,’ I offer.

‘Could’ve been worse,’ Mandy replies. ‘Polly and her friends were daring each other to jump off the shed roof – little monkeys. I’m lucky she didn’t break her neck.’

‘Mandy,’ Celia says, ‘I’ve left my car parked out the front. Is that okay? We won’t be too long.’

‘It’s fine. Sounds like it’s hammering down out there. Anyway, how can I help?’

‘This is my daughter-in-law Zoe, née Williams. I don’t know if you remember, but ten years ago her sister Dina went missing.’

She thinks for a moment. ‘Oh, yeah – Dina Williams. Last seen overseas? I didn’t have much involvement I’m afraid, but I was sorry to hear about that.’ She gives me a sympathetic smile.

‘Anyway,’ Celia continues, ‘this morning, Zoe thinks she saw her walking down…’ Celia turns to me. ‘Where was it you saw her?’

‘Not far. Just over at Bimport, past the ambulance station.’

Mandy nods. ‘Okay, hang on, let me get the sarge.’

A few minutes later, she returns with a police officer who I’d guess is in his early thirties. He has fair hair that’s flecked with grey and he’s vaguely familiar. ‘Mrs Johnson, hello.’

‘Hello,’ Celia and I both reply.

He turns to me. ‘Not sure if you remember me. I’m Sergeant Alfie Graham.’

The name rings a bell, and then it comes to me. ‘I spoke to you back when my sister first went missing.’ I remember thinking he looked too young to be a policeman. Now he looks more than capable. ‘How’s your colleague, Sergeant McCormack? Give her my best wishes.’

‘She retired five years ago. Happily tending her smallholding in Wiltshire.’

‘Sounds nice,’ I reply.

‘I’m sorry we weren’t able to help find your sister.’

‘Well, that’s why we’ve come to see you,’ Celia says.

‘Mandy told me. You think you might have seen her in Shaftesbury today?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Okay, well we’ll have a drive around, see if we can spot her. It’s a shame about the weather though. Chances of her being out in this are pretty slim. I’ll get a copy of her photo off the Missing Persons Register. We’ll also run a few checks to see if there’s any record of her moving back to the area. But that might take a while.’