‘No. I spoke to the owner, asked him if there was anything unusual about the sale, and he told me the Corrigans were very eager to sell. Took way below the asking price and moved out before the sale was even properly completed. Allowed the Parkins to make alterations before they even got in there,’ Walsh said.

‘Why do we think that is?’ DCI Kapoor said.

‘They obviously needed to get out of town. Well, Reece Corrigan did,’ Imogen said.

‘What do we think is at the house?’ DCI Kapoor said.

‘I don’t know. I wouldn’t put anything past Corrigan, though. From what we have learned from employees and other acquaintances, he is a dangerous man,’ Walsh said.

‘The last time Clive Osborne used his debit card was in the newsagent’s about a block away from that house. No trace of him after that,’ Gary said.

‘So, he went to visit them at home and then disappeared?’ Imogen said.

They were all thinking the same thing. Osborne most likely fell foul of Corrigan’s temper. Maybe he did turn up to take Angela away. Maybe Reece found Osborne before he got to her. Imogen felt a pang of sympathy for Angela again. All these years thinking that he had abandoned her when he hadn’t at all. Still, speculation wasn’t enough – they needed proof.

‘Maybe he’s still there,’ Kapoor said ominously. ‘When can we gain access to the house, then?’

‘I already thought of that. I spoke to the owner and he said he would try and take an earlier flight. He is being very cooperative and has consented to a full search when he gets back even without a warrant,’ Walsh said.

‘Unusual,’ Imogen said.

‘His wife is a copper, so I guess that has something to do with it. Also, he said that Reece Corrigan gave him the heebie-jeebies. His word, not mine. Considering we have no probable cause at this point, it’s the best we can hope for,’ Gary said.

‘The body could be anywhere, though. How many jobs have they worked on since Clive Osborne disappeared?’ Imogen said.

‘Almost five hundred,’ Gary chimed in helpfully. ‘If you count the small jobs, as well.’

‘Brilliant,’ DCI Kapoor said. ‘Which one of you is going to head up there for the search?’

‘I think we should both go, when the Parkins get back. DS Grey and I,’ DI Walsh said.

‘So, Osborne has never been reported as a missing person?’ DCI Kapoor asked.

‘He isn’t in the system, no,’ Imogen said. It was the first thing she had checked.

‘That’s a bit strange, isn’t it? How long since anyone has seen him?’ DCI Kapoor said.