Page 2

CHAPTER 2

MATTHEW – D AY O NE

Matthew Hill dashes from the small flat adjoining his office back to his desk.

‘I’m sorry but I have a family emergency. I’m going to have to go. Reschedule this.’ He’s grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair as he speaks, checking the pocket for his car keys. His head says there will be an update any minute to say that Amelie has been found. Hiding. Pranking. Sorry to panic you . But his heart, pounding out of his chest, says he will never forgive himself if he’s wrong.

He has to go. Now .

But the girl doesn’t move.

‘What about my mother?’ she says. ‘Trying to find ... my ... mother ?’

Her crestfallen expression underlines everything he suddenly realises is wrong with his life. Has always been wrong with his life? The push-pull of family versus work. The work as a PI always so full on.

The girl looks as if she may cry. She’s a mother herself, apparently, but looks too young. Nineteen. A kid with a kid. Her email said her mother left the family when she was eight and Matthew’s only had time to take the most basic of details.

‘I’m sorry but I really do have to go. I have your number and I promise I’ll update you as soon as I can. Either to fix another meeting or to suggest someone else who can help you.’

‘But I’ve come a long way. Are you saying you can’t take the case? I’ve got money. I told you I can pay.’

‘I’m so sorry but this really is an emergency.’ He’s moving towards the door, heart still pounding and his head spinning. Who to call first? Mel Sanders? ‘Look. I’m going to have to close the office. Ask you to leave.’ Still the girl doesn’t move. ‘ Immediately . I’m so sorry.’

At last she slowly picks up her own jacket and moves to the door, passing through just ahead of him, huffing in frustration. Matthew locks the upstairs office door behind them and calls out to remind her that the staircase is steep. On the street, he checks that the main door is properly closed and repeats that he’ll message and update. The girl looks genuinely shaken still. ‘So what’s the emergency?’

‘I’m sorry. I can’t say.’ He mutters more apologies then marches to his car on a nearby meter.

As he pulls away, he sees in his mirror the girl staring at the car, her face white. He feels guilty but what to do? No choice.

Sal is always complaining he gets it wrong. Job before family. Once – a shiver goes through him as he remembers – he left his wife and daughter on Maidstead High Street to investigate a shooting nearby. He was the first official on the scene. It helped. But he will never forget Sally’s face. Don’t leave us. Please don’t leave us ...

It took years to build Amelie’s confidence to go back into town. And now this.

Matthew rings Sally as he drives. Answerphone. Damn. She must still be talking to the police. Or maybe they’ve found Amelie and she’s soothing her? He tries to hold on to that thought, that hope, that picture in his head, but it won’t stick.

Should he wait? Not wait? Be optimistic? Or catastrophise? Sod it . He speed-dials Mel Sanders.

‘Hi, Matthew. What’s up?’

‘I’ve got a situation, Mel. Might need your help.’

Matthew feels his heart pumping even faster as he changes through the gears. Melanie Sanders is the best police officer he knows. Old colleague. Old friend. They trained together years back. When he left the force over a traumatic case, Melanie tried to dissuade him. Since he set up as a private investigator, they’ve remained good friends and he’s helped, both unofficially and officially, on a few of her cases.

‘Right. Shoot.’

‘It might be nothing. It might resolve, but Amelie’s gone missing. Sal’s just phoned from Maidstead High Street to tell me. I don’t know how long she’s been gone yet. But Sal’s speaking to local uniforms.’

‘Jeez.’ A pause. ‘And def missing ?’ Her tone is immediately into professional gear.

‘Haven’t confirmed details. Like I say, I don’t know how long. But Sal wouldn’t call the police unless—’

‘OK. I’m on it. I’ll see what I can find out once it’s official. Where are you?’

‘In the car, just left Exeter. On the way to join Sally. Praying it’s a false alarm, a prank. A mistake.’ A pause. He lowers his voice. ‘But between us, I’m worried it’s ...’ He breaks off.

‘Course you’re frightened. Anyone would be. But you know how this goes. In most cases they turn up very quickly. And meantime I’m on this. I’m with you, Matt.’

Matthew feels a sweep of an emotion he can’t quite identify. It’s not relief. There can’t be relief until he gets the call to say that Amelie is safe, back with her mother, that it’s all been a terrible mistake. That Sally is sorry for frightening everyone. But until that call comes, at least he has Melanie Sanders, the newly appointed head of CID in Cornwall, on his side. She may now work in the wrong county, technically, but she has strong history in Devon. Contacts. And for now she’s the best he’s got.

‘Just thinking aloud, Matt. You’re not worrying this might have anything to do with—’

‘No. No.’ He pauses. She means him rejoining the police. It’s been in the papers. He’s set to help build Mel’s new team in just over a month. ‘Well, I mean it’s highly unlikely. Right?’ He’s glad that she’s said it first. The truth is he is worrying this has something to do with him – his recent decision – but he needs to shut that thought right down. ‘No. I can’t go there yet, Mel. Let’s pray for a mistake. A misunderstanding. Going to ring off now. Try Sally again.’