‘They haven’t come back with anything, but they’d found nothing when we left. The cellar was newly remodelled when they moved in, but the Parkins permitted them to drill into the concrete to get to under the foundations and take soil samples. They are quick, simple tests on the ground and none of them threw up any trace of human remains. Forensics said that was their best bet at this point,’ Imogen said.

‘Feels a bit too much like a lucky dip for my liking. We are missing something or someone, I know we are,’ DCI Kapoor said.

‘Do you want us to take another run at his right-hand man, Jimmy Chilton? He must have some information by now,’ Imogen said.

‘You do that, DS Grey. Scare the shit out of him if you need to. He definitely knows more than he is letting on. Bring him in and make him sweat it out in an interview room. Go and speak to Quick’s parents first, see if they can’t tell you a bit more about why he left. I know you haven’t been cleared for active duty yet, DS Miles, but as these are grieving parents and not suspects, you should be fine. I think it needs to be the two of you who go and speak to them, not someone new. They’ve met you before,’ DCI Kapoor said.

Adrian was thankful at least that he had been paired with Imogen and not someone else. The thought of leaving the station was not particularly appealing after what happened at Cameron Becker’s. These days he divided his time between home, work and sometimes the church. He didn’t want to deal with anything or anyone else. He knew he would have to get over all of that if he wanted to continue as a police officer. Before the attack he had never considered being anything else. His whole life had been called into question. He didn’t even know who he was anymore.

Imogen tapped him on the shoulder and he realised the briefing had ended. His mind had wandered off again. Standing, he walked out of the room, because that’s what he was supposed to do now. Just a few more hours of going through the motions and he could go home and shower, sleep and let go of the pretence for just a while.

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Adrian got chills as they pulled back into the Quicks’ driveway, remembering what happened the last time they were there. Adrian thought of who he had been then and it felt like a lifetime ago.

Imogen pushed the doorbell and Mrs Quick answered the door. She had that look still, grief, the hollow of bereavement. They had known they wouldn’t be welcome after what had happened last time they were there, but nothing could prepare Adrian for the look of sheer hatred and betrayal Mrs Quick gave him.

‘What do you want?’ she asked.