Kate slammed the phone into its cradle. ‘He wasn’t there.’

Finn wore a veil of disappointment. ‘So, what happens next?’

‘Armitage and his team are going to search the property for evidence of Coleridge’s involvement and any clues as to where he has gone. Apparently there was a huge pile of unopened post on the doormat, suggesting he’s not been there for some time.’

‘Do you want me to drive you home?’

Kate flicked on the computer on the desk. ‘No way. Not while he’s still out there.’

‘But what can you do from here? Where do you even begin?’

‘Well, we know his sister died, and was possibly the catalyst for his crimes, so maybe she had friends or family that he could be hiding with.’

Loading up a search engine she typed in Elaine Coleridge’s name and skimmed the results. The first page was dominated by social media and recruitment profiles of women with the same name. She ignored these and loaded up the next page. But on the fourth page of results, an article caught her eye. Clicking the link, she was surprised to find an archived article from a local Hampshire newspaper. It recorded the suicide of a local girl, aged twenty-one. She was found in a bathtub with her wrists slit. According to the article, her unnamed brother returned from work to find her, but his attempts to resuscitate her were useless. There was an image of the young woman in happier times. Kate leaned closer to the screen. In the distance an older man was waving at her. Kate squinted at the image, gesticulating so Finn could see.

‘It’s him.’

‘Does it say where she lived?’

Kate shook her head. There’s no address, but I can contact the newspaper and see whether they have a record of it on file.’

Finn stifled a yawn.

Kate looked up apologetically. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve had you out all day. Do you need to get back?’

He shook his head. ‘There’s no hurry.’

‘Let’s head off now. I can phone the newspaper on the way, and try to wangle that address from them.’

‘You think that’s where he is now?’

‘It’s as good a guess as any. We know he’s not in London, and if he’s hiding he’d want to be in familiar surroundings.’

---

It was nearly three by the time her phone call was finally answered. Kate didn’t appreciate being on hold for almost twenty minutes, but she tried to sound calm as she spoke. ‘Is that Zoe?’

The woman on the other end sounded tired, secretly longing for the end of her shift so she could get home and unwind. ‘Speaking.’

‘Zoe, it’s DI Kate Matthews, you interviewed me when I first moved to Southampton. And again last summer when I solved Eleanor Jacobs’ murder.’

‘Sure, I remember, what can I do for you?’

‘I need a favour. I don’t like to ask, but I’d owe you one.’ Reporters were always looking for currency within the force, leverage for when they wanted in on a big story.

‘What do you need?’ The terms of the verbal contract were clear to them both.

‘You did a story years ago about a girl called Elaine Coleridge. A suicide, she was found in the bath by her brother.’

There was a pause on the line. ‘Did I? It sounds vaguely familiar. What about it?’

Kate took a deep breath. ‘I’m hoping you can look through your notes and tell me the address where she was found.’

‘What’s this about?’ asked Zoe, her voice thick with suspicion.

‘We’re looking for the brother. He’s a missing person, and we’re shaking down possible leads of where he might be.’

Zoe grunted. ‘If I’m going to do you a favour, you’ll have to be straight with me. Someone as high profile as you doesn’t run missing-persons’ cases. Rumour is you’re under investigation for that car chase last Wednesday. Care to comment?’

‘You know I can’t comment on rumours or active cases.’

‘Listen, Kate, I’m only too happy to work collaboratively with you, but I need honesty. You don’t have to tell me exactly why you’re after this guy, but it’s juicier than just a missing-person’s case, right?’

Kate sighed. ‘Yes.’

‘And you’ll give me background to go to print when you’ve found him?’

She closed her eyes. ‘Fine.’

‘I’ll see what I can dig up and I’ll call you back.’

The line disconnected.

‘Everything okay?’ Finn asked, glancing over.

Kate’s eyes remained closed, hoping she wouldn’t regret the trade-off.