Adam worked for the forensics department, albeit not the electronics section. Jessica already knew he was off work until the middle of the following week. There was another pause as Cole scanned the room. ‘Do we think this is it? Benjamin Sturgess kidnapped Isaac Hutchings, killed him, then got caught while he was dumping the body? We might be able to connect him to Toby Whittaker’s disappearance and presumed murder because of the map – although we wouldn’t be able to prove much as we haven’t found a body. People above me seem keen to get this done and dusted.’

Jessica could hear the uncertainty in his voice. With the pressure he was under from his superiors, there must be a strong incentive to get everything tidied away nicely in time for Christmas. She could sense that he wasn’t quite convinced.

‘This is nonsense,’ Jessica said. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her as the words spilled out. ‘Sorry, but it is. From the text messages, it’s clear there’s at least one other person involved. Benjamin messaged someone to say they should meet at the “shed”. If nothing else, we’ve got to find out who that is.’

There was silence for a few moments before Cole replied. ‘The forensics team will be looking into that but, for now—’

Jessica didn’t let him finish. ‘“For now” what? We’re going to tell the media we’ve got our man so everyone can let their kids out to play again? What about the map? Benjamin was driving but didn’t know where he was going. If it was just him who had done all of this on his own, he would know. What about the stolen car? This is a guy in his fifties. Are we saying he hooked Daisy Peters’s keys out of her house and drove away? He doesn’t live anywhere near her but somehow he knew she lived alone? Where did he get the information for that list of kids we found? He’s not a teacher any longer but he knew their names and addresses. He must have got that from somewhere.’

There was a longer silence where no one dared say anything. Cole was staring at Jessica and she could see in his eyes that he didn’t want to be there. ‘What do you suggest we do?’ he asked quietly.

‘We find out who he was working with.’

‘There’s nothing to stop us doing that. Forensics are looking into things but we can’t do anything else until those results come back. It’s just been suggested to me that if we release the information about Benjamin Sturgess to the media tonight or tomorrow . . .’

He didn’t finish the sentence but he didn’t have to. Jessica knew what he was implying. If the information was released it would give the public a nice impression of them to savour over Christmas. Meanwhile, they could continue looking for whoever the second person might be. If they found out, great. If not, they already had a man to pin everything on – a dead person who wouldn’t be able to refute anything.

‘Are you going to go along with this?’ Jessica asked, more aggressively than she meant to.

Cole spoke quietly but determinedly. ‘It’s not really up to me.’

‘In the press conference, are we at least going to tell the media we are still looking for a second person?’

Cole said nothing but she could tell by looking at him that the answer was ‘No’. It wasn’t as if they were appealing for witnesses because, so far, all they had to go on was an unregistered phone number a text message had been sent to. Without anything specific to take to the public, it seemed someone higher up in the force had decided they would host a triumphant media event and conveniently ignore the secondary evidence.

Jessica met the chief inspector’s eyes. She had known him for around a decade in total and been something close to a friend for some of those years. ‘At least tell people the investigation isn’t closed,’ she said with a softer tone.

‘It’s not my call.’

‘But you’ll be there. You can say what you want.’

He spoke quietly but emphatically. ‘No.’

‘But—’ Jessica couldn’t finish before Cole spoke over her.

‘We’re finished here. Everyone go home and have a good Christmas.’

‘Sir, I . . .’

The chief inspector suddenly rose to his feet, sending his chair clattering into the wall behind him. Jessica had rarely seen him angry but his eyes were wide and glaring straight at her. ‘Don’t even think about talking about this externally.’

It was the most threatening thing Jessica had ever heard him say and utterly out of character. She knew he was referring to a journalist friend of hers, warning her not to leak the information. ‘I wasn’t going to—’

‘Out. Now. Everyone.’

For a second or two, nobody moved, stunned by the venom in the man’s usually calm voice. Everyone stood at the same time and moved quickly towards the door. Nobody spoke as they headed down the stairs in unison towards the ground floor but together the four officers walked to the office Jessica shared with Cornish, even though she hadn’t asked them to.

Once inside, Reynolds closed the door. ‘Just be careful,’ he said firmly, looking directly at Jessica, who was sitting on the corner of her desk.

‘I was just saying what we were all thinking. Or should have been thinking.’ Jessica was feeling defensive but also a little shaken. She had never known Cole become so angry, whether as chief inspector or in his old DI role.

‘Yes, but there are right ways to do things,’ Reynolds went on. ‘Don’t forget he’s getting it from all sides.’ Jessica shrugged, feeling uncomfortable. ‘Are you okay?’ he added.

‘Fine.’

The inspector weighed her up for a moment before responding. ‘Right, I’m heading off. Have a good Christmas and . . . don’t do anything stupid.’ Jessica knew he was also referring to leaking information. Louise didn’t add anything except for a ‘Merry Christmas’ and left the room, leaving Rowlands and Jessica alone.

The two officers stared at each other before Dave finally cracked and burst out laughing. ‘That was hilarious,’ he said in between sniggers. ‘It was like being in church or assembly at school and you’re just holding it in, desperately trying not to laugh.’

Jessica tried to remain serious but her friend’s laughter was infectious and she couldn’t help smiling. ‘I’m glad you find it funny.’

‘Oh, it was. For a moment I thought he’d actually swear. Everyone’s always going on about how calm he is. Imagine if he’d actually told you to f-off or whatever.’

‘Do you remember that shit game you lot started playing a while back?’ Jessica asked.

‘The “trying to get the DCI to swear” game? Of course. It was my idea.’

‘No one managed it then?’

‘No, but I got close. I found this news article online about some agricultural argument thing in Somerset. The headline was, “Forking Hell”. I tried to get him to read it out loud but he wasn’t having it.’

‘In other words, you forked up.’

It was such a bad pun that neither of them could resist laughing.

‘That was pathetic,’ Rowlands concluded when he had composed himself.

Jessica couldn’t deny that. ‘Are you busy on Christmas Eve?’ she asked.

He screwed his face up. ‘I don’t know. I’m probably going to be buying everyone’s presents.’

‘Seriously? I thought you’d finally grown up?’

‘Just joking. Chloe and me are spending the day together.’

‘Do you fancy coming to mine?’

‘What for?’

‘I’m cooking everyone Christmas Dinner a day early.’

Rowlands snorted. ‘No, seriously, what for?’

Jessica refused to take the bait. ‘Seriously. I’m cooking everyone dinner. Me, my mate Caroline, my boyfriend Adam, Hugo, plus you and Chloe if you’re up for it.’

Dave must have realised Jessica wasn’t joking as he stopped smiling. ‘Hugo’s going?’

‘Yes.’

‘You’re seeing that Adam dude again?’

‘Yes.’

‘You’re cooking?’

‘Yes!’ Jessica almost shouted the final response.

‘But you don’t cook. The last time I was round, you burned a frozen pizza then ended up getting everyone to chip in for a takeaway.’