Porter waited and let a few seconds of silence settle over the table in case Locke planned to elaborate, but when nothing else was forthcoming he stepped back into the gap in conversation.

‘What about any other form of contact? Have you spoken to her on the phone since then? Swapped emails?’

Locke gave a wry smile. ‘There was no such thing as email the last time I saw her, but no, in answer to your question, I’ve had no contact with her since then.’ He paused, then added, ‘Or should I say she’s had no contact with me.’

‘What do you mean by that?’ asked Styles.

‘I mean she’s the one that disappeared off into the sunset. I know there was no Facebook or Twitter when she left, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard for her to find me if she wanted. I’ve searched for her online a few times over the years but never found any mention.’ He shook his head softly. ‘I know it must have been hard for her when Dad … did what he did. I was too young to really understand at the time. I guess she needed some space to work things out her way. I just didn’t realise it would last this long.’

‘Were Natasha and your dad close?’ Porter asked.

Gavin shrugged. ‘Memories from that far back are fuzzy, but yeah, from what I remember.’

‘Any arguments, fallings out, that kind of thing?’

Gavin frowned, silent for a moment. ‘Why would you ask that? What are you saying? That Dad had something to do with her disappearing?’

‘Just a routine question,’ said Porter, shaking his head. ‘We need to understand what was going on in her life back then. Whether she was happy, anything that might affect her so much that she felt the need to take off.’ As much as he had his suspicions about Nathan Barclay, sharing them with Gavin Locke wasn’t going to help him coax the answers he wanted. Not without anything to back them up, at least.

‘How about her relationship with your mum?’ asked Styles, changing direction.

‘Like I said, I was only six. What little I remember was OK, I guess. I don’t remember them not getting on for what that’s worth.’ He shrugged. ‘I know Mum had her good and bad days back then, and she spent a bit of time in hospital. I don’t know if she told you about Simon?’ Porter and Styles both looked blank, so he continued. ‘Simon would have been my little brother, but he died before he was born.’

‘Ah yes,’ said Styles. ‘She did tell us, but hadn’t used a name. Sorry.’