Page 64 of 36 Hours

A deep frown immediately formed on Frost’s face as she tapped a few keys. She remained silent as she appeared to be watching something.

‘Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit,’ she cursed. Then she looked up at them.

‘Your boss is not gonna like this one little bit.’

FORTY-NINE

10.50P.M.

‘But what could have happened to drive such a wedge between them?’ Kim asked, after what felt like their tenth trip through a drive-thru. She vaguely remembered seeing this one earlier in the day.

The dynamics of the Lane family were still on her mind. Two members of the family turning up in their investigation had to be more than a coincidence.

‘Nine months ago, they were celebrating a birthday together, and Eric even tried to help her during Covid. What could have happened to ensure they’re now estranged, and Mommy Dearest is positively hostile?’

‘Is it important?’ Bryant asked, covering his yawn with his hand.

‘Sorry if I’m boring you, and I’m not gonna know if it’s important until I know what it is, am I?’ she snapped.

‘We could always go and ask Joanne.’

‘Jeez, Bryant, what kind of monster do you think I am? It’s almost eleven and she’s a single mother of two.’

‘Solid point, although not one that would normally?—’

He stopped speaking as her phone rang.

‘Hey, Stace, tell me you’re ringing with a location for Hiccup and a name and address for our sicko.’

And then we can all go home and get some sleep, she thought.

‘Sorry, boss, but I have news that’s not even remotely good.’

Kim’s heart sank. Thank goodness she’d already arranged for Barney to stay with his best pal Charlie.

‘Go on,’ Kim said, bracing herself.

‘It’s made the local TV news, boss.’

‘Shit,’ Kim said. ‘Okay, we’re on our way back.’

Bryant started the car as she ended the call.

Immediately, her phone started ringing again. She didn’t need to look to see who it was.

She put the phone in her pocket unanswered.

She was sure she’d be seeing him soon enough.

FIFTY

11.05P.M.

Although the task was a bit of a ball-ache, Penn could understand why the boss had insisted that all names from the litter-pick had to be checked.

The first half of the list had proven to be a bust, but the second half had been a lot more interesting.

The first person of interest was thirty-eight-year-old Peter Harris, who lived around a mile from the nature reserve and had one charge of assault under his belt. On the face of it, a stretch inside appeared to have cured his thirst for violence, and he’d either been clean or not caught for almost ten years.