‘I’ve been told she works at a café in Ambleside.’

‘What about Libby?’

‘She’s MD of a property management company in Kendal. That was how she met Greg. He owns some cottages dotted about Cumbria that are let out to holidaymakers and Libby’s firm looks after them.’

‘Do you have any idea how wealthy the guy is?’

‘I don’t, but I gather his dad left him a couple of million in cash as well as the hotels and other properties.’

James was about to ask another question but got distracted as the path veered between two large bushes and more of the lake came into view.

The jetty lay directly in front of them beyond a small group of people that included two uniformed officers. It stretched about twenty yards out into the lake and looked to be eight or nine feet wide. It was supported by thick posts that poked up six or so inches through the wooden decking. Two forensic officers in white protective suits were on their knees examining one of the posts. James could see the scene clearly because a portable lamp had been set up on a stand to shed light on it for the forensics team.

James stopped walking and looked around to get his bearings. He saw that the shoreline here was low down and tucked behind a few trees and high mounds of shrubbery. It was why he hadn’t seen the jetty before reaching this point, and it meant that if Rachel had got into trouble while standing on it the other guests wouldn’t necessarily have seen or heard anything.

He noted that more police officers were searching the shoreline on both sides of the jetty, some shining torches out onto the surface of the lake, looking for a floating body or any more of Rachel’s belongings. They were keeping their voices low but that did nothing to mask the sense of urgency in their hushed tones.

‘This is almost surreal,’ James commented. ‘What a way for a wedding to end.’

‘I keep thinking she’ll appear out of nowhere and accuse us all of overreacting,’ Abbott responded. ‘But in my heart, I know that’s not going to happen.’

Gut instinct told James that she was right. Things were not looking good. And the questions were already piling up. Did Rachel have an accident or was she attacked? Did she come down to the jetty by herself or with someone? Did any of the wedding guests know what had happened to her but weren’t saying? And was it possible that she would never turn up either dead or alive?

He started walking again, heading towards the jetty, and was glad to see someone had strung police tape between the first two posts to prevent unauthorised entry. Abbott stayed by his side and he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. This wasn’t how she had envisaged the day panning out and he suspected that this might be a difficult case given she’d likely met – maybe even started to like – most of the guests who were now suspects. He would have to be mindful of the fact during the ongoing investigation.