‘Miss Sharp, I appreciate that you are worried for your uncle, and I am well aware of how distressing that can be. You’re not the first person to be sat in front of me saying the same thing. But that is also why we can’t take any action right now. I understand that this is uncharacteristic for your uncle, but that in itself doesn’t constitute grounds to suspect a crime.’

‘I don’t care whether there’s a crime involved. I just need some help because I think something must have happened to him. Why would he not show up to work? He had a meeting that was crucial to his business. He’s not been home in days, his phone is just diverting …’

Sergeant Collins nodded patiently, waiting for her to let it all out. He really had heard this a hundred times before.

‘It’s difficult to accept, but it’s a hard fact that sometimes people do uncharacteristic things. They most frequently go missing simply because they don’t want to be found.’

‘But he would have no reas—’

‘And those closest to them,’ he interrupted this time, ‘have had no idea, no inkling about the reasons that were leading up to it. It can be money, it can be to do with relationships, but from a police point of view, unless some law has been broken in the process, they have a right to do just that.’

Jasmine could feel her eyes tearing up as she ran out of reasons to throw at Sergeant Collins’ polite implacability.

‘It’s very early days, Miss Sharp,’ he assured her. ‘I’m sure you’ve thought yourself that there could be a simple explanation and it’ll all be resolved in a couple of days, even a couple of hours.’

‘But what if it’s not?’ she demanded, her voice close to breaking.

‘Well, when people are trying to find someone and it’s not appropriate for the police to get involved, they often consider going to a private investigator, though that can be expensive.’

This put the tin lid on it. Jasmine broke down into sobs, her face in her hands. Sergeant Collins put an arm around her shoulders and offered her a paper hanky.

‘Don’t upset yourself,’ he intoned calmly. ‘Like I said, it’s early days. I only mentioned private investigators as something hypothetical for the future.’

Jasmine lifted her head and fixed him with a red-eyed but determined glare.

‘You don’t understand. My uncle is a private investigator. He’s an ex-cop: detective sergeant, retired, after thirty years’ service. If you can’t push the boat out for him, then who the hell can you help?’

Sergeant Collins bridled a little in surprise, then straightened his posture as though standing to attention. His tone remained professional, but there was now a softness to it. Sadly for Jasmine, it spoke more of regret than intention.