‘Well, it seems that you’ve got everything under control as usual, James. But before the briefing tomorrow I’d like to have a quiet word with you in my office about a personal matter. Can you aim to be in at around eight?’

‘Of course.’

‘Good stuff. Sorry to dangle the proverbial carrot but I’ll have more time to go into it properly tomorrow. For now, I can assure you it’s nothing to worry about. I’ll see you then.’

James hadn’t a clue what Tanner wanted to talk to him about and decided that there was no point dwelling on it now. As soon as he ended the call, he made another one, this time to the number Fraser Elliott had given him for Mary Wilson, the owner of the café where Rachel had worked. But it went to voicemail so he left a message asking her to ring him.

James was contemplating what to do next when Stevens arrived back from the canteen.

‘Lunch is on me, boss,’ he said. ‘While you get stuck in, I’ll go and check Hannigan’s alibi with his team.’

Stevens had got him a burger that went down a treat along with a bruised banana and a cup of hot coffee.

James immediately felt the benefit of having eaten something and it perked him up a little.

A few minutes later, Stevens returned to say that Hannigan’s employees had confirmed that he was with them in their office until just after six on New Year’s Eve. He then went to the pub with them and set off for home about seven.

James shrugged his shoulders. It wasn’t an unexpected result but it still served to fuel the frustration that was growing inside him.

He spent the next hour typing up a report and discussing the case with Isaac and Stevens. He was determined to leave at five and by then the nightshift was in place.

There was only one thing left to do before he exited the office, and that was to take a couple of paracetamol to combat the ache that had started raging in his head.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

James’s headaches were usually at their most severe when they first came on, and they tended to fade quickly once the paracetamol started to work its magic, so he was hoping that he’d be pain free by the time he’d driven the twenty-five miles to Kirkby Abbey.

Before leaving headquarters, he sent a message to Annie telling her that he was on his way home and asked how Bella was. She replied instantly.

Bella’s about the same. Cough, sniffles and slight temperature. I made your favourite stew and it’s in the oven.

It was dark now and road conditions had worsened as the snow was still falling and the wind had started to pick up again.

James felt physically and emotionally drained, and the case continued to play on his mind as he drove.

Two calls came through the Bluetooth during the journey. The first was from Officer Hartley, the FLO assigned to Rachel’s parents. She wanted him to know that they had asked her to leave their house in Bowness so they could spend the evening by themselves.