Like all of the properties on that road, Phillip Sherman’s house was opulence in its purest form. ‘Here, put these on,’ DI Downes said, handing her a pair of forensic overshoes that he had taken from the back of the car.

‘Cheers,’ Ruby replied, bending to slip them over her heels. They crossed the expensive marble flooring, wasting no time in getting to work.

‘I’ll lead, you listen,’ DI Downes said, heading towards the open living room door. Their voices echoed upwards to the high ceilings as they spoke, and Ruby paused to take in the decorative embellishments lining the walls. From oil paintings to small marble statues, the property seemed more like a museum of fine art than somebody’s home. The update from control had given her little to go on. From what she could see, they were dealing with a severed finger and nothing else.

For once, CSI had beaten her to the scene. The head of the team, aptly nicknamed Bones, was leaving just as Ruby walked in. His long black dreadlocks were tucked up in an elastic band, his large frame encased in a white forensics all-in-one.

‘No time to talk, I need to get this back to the lab,’ he replied, in response to Ruby’s request for a catch-up. The finger was now in an evidence bag, soon to be booked in. After crime scene officers conducted their initial examination, it would be frozen to prevent further degradation. The parcel would be tested for fingerprints, fibres and residues, but given it had come through the Royal Mail system, Ruby did not hold out much hope.

‘Just your initial thoughts,’ Ruby said, keeping her voice low.

Bones checked for an audience before taking her to one side. ‘I can’t give you much at this stage. We have a very clean cut of the proximal phalanx – that’s the bottom segment of the bone on the ring finger to you. Either the victim was dead, unconscious, or tightly restrained when the amputation was carried out. According to the postmark, it happened at least three days ago. The envelope is lined with plastic bubble wrap. There’s no note.’ Pushing up the sleeve of his paper suit, he checked his watch. ‘Time waits for no man. Katie’s about if you need to talk to her. She and the team will give the place the usual going over.’

Ruby thanked him before joining her DI in the lounge. She cast her eyes over Phillip Sherman, who was sipping from a crystal tumbler, his skin tone a pallid grey hue. His suit jacket discarded on the sofa, he sat with his legs spread wide, and his shirtsleeves rolled up his arms. A tall man of considerable bulk, he appeared fiercer in the flesh than on TV. Ruby reminded herself that people reacted in different ways. She waited until Downes had finished speaking before introducing herself, but Sherman barely looked her way.

‘What makes you think this was a kidnapping?’ Ruby asked.

‘What else would it be, given my status in the media?’ Phillip snapped, before downing the last of his drink. ‘It’s obvious they’re after money. I just hope I’ve done the right thing by calling, instead of waiting for a ransom letter to come.’

‘If they didn’t want you to report the crime they would have been in touch by now. Have you checked your emails, texts, social media, post?’ Downes’s Northern Irish accent touched his words in an upward inflexion.

‘No,’ Phillip said, in a more respectful tone. ‘But I left a pile of envelopes on the bedroom dressing table when I came in.’

After checking through his post and logging onto his emails, it seemed that whoever had sent the finger was in no hurry to get in touch.

‘You mentioned you spoke to your wife three days ago,’ Downes said. ‘Any arguments? Anything that might cause her to leave without telling you where she’s going?’

Phillip pursed his lips as if mulling it over. ‘We had a minor tiff. It was nothing serious, just a petty disagreement over a credit card bill. She hung up on me after I gave her a telling off.’ A frown crossed his face. ‘We’re meant to appear at an awards party next month. What’s she going to look like now without a finger? It’s repulsive, that’s what it is.’

‘Was this a common occurrence? Your arguments, I mean,’ Ruby interjected. She had taken an instant dislike to him. No amount of gold cards would make her want to live with such a man.

Downes met her gaze, passing unspoken words. He was telling her to leave this to him. It was uncanny how they could communicate with each other through a single look. When attending scenes with members of the public, many of their exchanges were silent. They had been working together for years – long enough to communicate in such a way.

Sherman bristled. ‘I don’t see how it’s any business of yours. It’s obvious that Melissa couldn’t have done this to herself. You should be out there looking for the person responsible instead of quizzing me.’

Ruby almost snorted at his presumption that he was exempt as a suspect.

Downes went on to explain their next steps and how they would progress with a search. ‘It’s important we gather some background knowledge of your home life. But rest assured, we have our best officers on the case.’ His smooth, reassuring tone seemed to do the trick as Sherman’s shoulders dropped half an inch.

Ruby smiled inwardly as she observed the conversation. It was her power that was winding this man up. He liked his women subservient, submissive. The total opposite of her.

‘We haven’t been married that long, just three years,’ Sherman said. ‘Melissa’s spending was out of control. I had to establish some ground rules. She had the house, the car, she wanted for nothing.’

Except for your respect, Ruby thought, swallowing back her disgust.

‘How much did she spend?’ Downes said.

Sherman’s lips visibly tightened before volunteering the information. ‘Six thousand pounds – in one day. I don’t see why you’re making such a big deal out of this when you should be concentrating on where she’s gone.’

‘We’ll have to seize her phone,’ Ruby said, ‘it may provide clues as to her whereabouts. Does she have a computer?’

‘No, she’s not into technology,’ Phillip said. ‘Her phone is upstairs.’

Ruby gave a slow nod. ‘It’s procedure to search the premises. Are you happy for officers to do so now?’

Phillip sighed. ‘Very well, if you must. But I don’t want any leaks to the press.’

Taking a deep breath, Ruby opened her mouth to speak but was quickly interrupted by Downes.

‘My team are making enquiries as we speak. It’s important you contact us if you receive any outside communications. Do you have any other postal or electronic addresses: work? Private?’

Sherman stretched to place his empty glass on the coffee table before him. ‘Work, of course, but why send a random note there after posting a finger to my home? It makes no sense.’

‘Perhaps not to us,’ Ruby said, ‘but I’d advise you check your work mail as a matter of urgency.’

‘The Fields of Athenry’ blasted out from Downes’s pocket as his work phone burst into life. After mumbling his excuses, he departed the room, but not before shooting Ruby a warning look. Ruby would have felt mildly insulted, had she not known him so well.

‘Is there anyone that may hold a grudge against you or your wife?’

‘I thought I made my position clear, officer.’ Phillip looked down his nose at her. ‘Do you know who I am?’

‘It’s Sergeant Preston, and yes, I’m aware,’ Ruby replied, curtly.

‘Well, then you would know that my wife and I are not in the habit of mixing with the criminal element. I interview politicians. In fact, the last person I grilled was our very own prime minister. Are you suggesting our fine leader kidnapped my wife and chopped her finger off?’

‘Of course not,’ Ruby said. ‘But I don’t understand why you’re so defensive. That is unless you’ve something to hide?’

‘Why, I’ve never been so insulted…’ Phillip said, his mouth gaping open as DI Downes walked back into the room. ‘Who is your supervisor? I want to make a complaint.’

‘I am,’ Downes replied. ‘Thank you for your time, Mr Sherman. I’ve just spoken to the family liaison officer, DC Ian Rutherford, who’s on his way. In the meantime, I’ll leave you in the capable hands of the uniformed officers. They’ll take a formal statement before carrying out a quick search of the premises and making some local enquiries.’ Plucking a business card from his back pocket, Downes passed it over. ‘Here’s my details, we’ll be in touch in due course.’

---

Downes exercised less control in the car on the way to the station. ‘Jesus, Ruby, why do you have to get people’s back up all the time? The man’s wife has gone missing. Is that any way to behave?’

‘So he says,’ Ruby replied. ‘Did you see the way he looked at me? Sexist, misogynistic pig.’

The corners of Downes’s eyes creased in mild amusement. ‘Sexist or not he’s still a victim… unless you think otherwise.’

‘I’m not buying that Melissa didn’t use a computer. Everyone has access to technology these days. Given her profession, she’s bound to be active on social media at the very least.’

‘Perhaps if I didn’t have to pull you out of there to swerve a complaint, we could have asked him.’

Ruby braked hard as the traffic lights blared red. ‘Perhaps if he weren’t such a wanker his wife wouldn’t have left.’

‘Is that what you’re thinking now?’ Downes said, pressing his hand against the dashboard of the car as they came to a sudden halt.

‘I’m just saying, is that finger really hers? Maybe that six grand spend was a pay-off for some elaborate fake kidnap attempt.’

‘And what happens when he makes the payment?’ Downes said, sighing heavily.

‘She disappears with the cash. Reinvents herself. What has she got to hang around for? A failing career, a husband who sees her as nothing but a trophy wife. It’s worth considering, don’t you think?’

‘Yes, except that finger was posted days ago. Why hasn’t contact been made?’

‘Well that,’ Ruby said, pressing her foot on the accelerator as the light turned green, ‘is what I intend to find out.’