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By Root 1070 0

him in the darkness, his feelings a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. It certainly was an unusual case and he still did not know if he was sitting next to a lunatic or a crusader. The man was certainly hot-tempered, but not exactly raving. And his incredible story certainly had some cold logic to it. You had to take a step back because you found yourself accepting it, and then, when looking at the whole affair objectively, that was when you realized how ridiculous it was. He was glad it was Wreford who would be taking responsibility and he would only be carrying out orders. Too soft, was Wreford, always had been. Shrewd, though, no question of that. But he’d made a big mistake this time, trusting this prick! He’d stuck his neck out all right, but not as much as he’d led Holman to believe. Wreford had alerted the local police forces, certainly, but only to be on the lookout for any adverse weather conditions, particularly fog, and to report such to him direct. He’d persuaded a friend in the central control room where information from all over the country was relayed, to keep him informed throughout the night if any reports of an unusual nature came in from Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset or Hampshire. Unofficially, of course. He’d have to explain his request for weather reports, and he’d better have a good reason ready, but that was as far as he’d risked his reputation. And if – just if – Holman’s incredible theory was correct, Wreford was covered; he’d acted, with discretion, on the information he’d received.

Barrow glanced at his watch. Ten past five. Jesus, he was tired. A couple of hours kip in one of the detention rooms hadn’t done him much good and all for what? For the benefit of this creep. Still, it had been uncanny about the school. Maybe . . .? No, now he was falling for it! Holman’s voice instructing the driver interrupted his thoughts.

‘Straight to the top of Highgate Hill and turn left through the village. Then it’s a side-road off to the left. I’ll tell you where.’

The police car began its ascent up the long hill, the gradual dawn light giving the streets a lonely and chilly atmosphere. They reached the village and turned left towards Hampstead, Holman peering through the window, anxiously looking for the road Casey and her father lived in. He spotted it and told the driver to turn off, the tension inside him beginning to mount. Again, he asked himself: had the effects of the fog worn off? He would soon find out.

He tapped the driver’s shoulder when he saw the house. ‘That’s it,’ he pointed.

It was a large house, set close to the road, the small front garden only nominal, but compensated for by the huge landscaped garden to the rear. Casey’s father was a wealthy man, deputy-chairman of one of Britain’s biggest unit trust finance houses and with interests in many other commercial enterprises, not the least of which was property development. On the few occasions they’d met, they had taken a dislike to one another, because both knew they were vying for the same person – Casey. Holman had been surprised at the intensity of Simmons’ hostility; he understood his possessiveness after losing his wife, but the affection he displayed towards Casey made Holman feel uncomfortable. It seemed a little too intimate for a father-daughter relationship. When he later questioned her about it, Casey had been genuinely amazed that be should think there was anything odd about her father’s attitude. Amazed, then angry at his implication. Holman had backed off, realizing his own jealousy could be colouring his view of the situation. But Simmons had made it quite obvious that Holman’s interest in his daughter was not at all welcome and on one occasion had gone to great lengths to tell him so while Casey was out of the room. Holman’s icy response had done nothing to soothe the situation between the two men and, as a consequence, he’d never been back to the house again while her father was there.

Now as he stared up at the dark windows of the house, he cursed the older man’s stupidity in insisting Casey be released from the hospital