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But she was – or at least might be – alive.

First, though, he had to see Sandra. He put his hand on the door, and pushed it open.

Wynne

There was a knock on the door of DI Wynne’s office. DS Chan walked in. He was holding his car keys.

‘They found it,’ he said. ‘They found Best’s car.’

‘Where?’

‘On the Sparkedge industrial estate. It was parked behind a warehouse. There’s a canal that runs past it and someone was jogging on the towpath. They called it in.’

‘And?’

‘No sign of them. The industrial estate is abandoned. Been that way for years.’

‘Do we have anyone there?’

‘Two officers. Another two are on the way. We’ve also called in the armed response gang. You never know.’

Wynne nodded. ‘Let’s go and check it out.’

Best’s Ford Focus was hidden from the road. Wynne walked around it, taking in the details. Two forensic technicians were working inside it, methodically collecting whatever evidence there was to collect.

She looked around the industrial estate. There was a car park, grass growing through the tarmac where it had buckled and split, and four large buildings, their corrugated rooves rusting. Beyond them was a brown, fetid-smelling canal.

She gestured at the buildings. ‘Have you been in?’

‘All locked up,’ said one of the PCs. He took off his helmet and scratched the back of his head. ‘We’ve contacted the owners. They’re sending someone who can open them.’

‘There may be an entrance,’ Wynne said. ‘A side door, or window.’

‘We had a good look,’ the officer said. ‘But it’s possible.’

‘Let’s have another look,’ Wynne said. ‘Best must have brought them here for a reason.’

They divided the buildings up. Wynne and Chan took the one nearest. There was a double door at the front. The glass was grimy, but they could make out a reception area through it. The name of the company was still on the wall above the desk.

The door was secured by a chain.

‘They didn’t come through here,’ Chan said. There was a large window to the left. At some point the glass had been broken and it had been covered with a board. ‘And I don’t think they got in there, either.’

They walked down the side. There were a series of high windows at least thirty feet above the ground. At the far end was a loading bay. It too was secured with a padlocked chain. Wynne picked up the padlock. She pulled it; it was locked.

‘Not here either,’ she said. She looked down the other wall of the building. There was a door about halfway along.

‘Let’s check that out,’ Wynne said.

They walked along the building. The door was metal, and had the words ‘Fire Escape’ printed on it in faded red letters. There was no chain, and no padlock.

Chan glanced at Wynne. He walked up to the door and gripped the handle. It twisted and the door swung open.

‘Get an officer,’ Wynne said. ‘I want backup.’

Martin

Sandra was lying on the bed. There was a cup of tea and a packet of biscuits on the table next to her. As the door opened, she looked at Martin.