Rupert smiled as Joyce entered his office. "This is a pleasant surprise. All quiet on the western front?"

She stared out of the window. "I lost my temper with Julian."

"Why?"

"He pissed me off with his patronising attitude."

He grinned. "I know it's not funny, but you've put up with how the force treats women from the day you joined. I gather you stood your ground, and he apologised."

"You know about it?"

"Pour yourself a coffee and take a seat. Yes, Julian phoned and had a chat. I told him you were right, and he was out of order. I'm not sure he agreed with me. I did mention you get uptight with the wind-ups and men's comments behind your back. I advised him it's his job to back you in public. You know my favourite saying, praise in public and bollock in private. Oh, by the way, how's Roger Brown?"

"Doing okay. Eric Simpson saved his life."

"Have you put him forward for a commendation?"

"Not yet, but I will."

"When you return to your office, close the door and do it at once. It's common for other things to get in the way, and you forget. Take your phone off the hook until you've written your report."

She gave a mock salute. "Yes, boss."

"There's a smile on your face. Now I have work to do even if you haven't Chief Inspector."

"When his brief has chatted with him, I'll need to interview Pete Mitchell under caution. From your concentration, what you're reading must be serious."

He leant back in his chair. "Something interesting is evolving. We can do without missing persons. They take up too much time and manpower. Unfortunately, women have been leaving home and vanishing into thin air."

Joyce shrugged. "The fact is men and women go missing every day. We would need to double the force to try and find them."

"I agree, but these women have gone to another planet. You know the situation; one disappears, and we do the crucial searches. Out of the blue, another goes missing, so we have a coincidence. A third forms a pattern. There are three more possibilities, and we have a big problem. The force never joined the dots."

"You may be chasing shadows. They could be living with another man or even a woman. Good chance they are alive and well."

Rupert frowned. "I don't know where to start. The common denominator of the three we examined is identical. Please don't laugh. They were on their way to see the vicar."

Joyce shook her head. "I assume the vicar is in the clear."

Rupert pointed to the reports. "This is where it becomes interesting. The vicar knew nothing of these meetings as he was miles away giving a talk or attending a seminar. We have written confirmation from those who were with him. He never denied he knew them as they went to his services. He even joined the police search. There's more to this than we know."

"Go with your gut, but how I see it is you're a ship with no rudder drifting towards a cliff in the dark. Be careful. Must go and interview Pete Mitchell and find out what his brief has told him to do. I dislike the smarmy bastard."

***

On her way to the cells, Joyce said, "Sergeant, have you seen Jeromy Charters, Mr Mitchell's lawyer?"

"Yes, guv, he told me to find you, but as he's not my boss, I didn't bother."

"I assume he's still in Mitchell's cell."

"He was the last time I went and checked."

On descending the stairs to the cells, she made a decision. Without knocking, she opened the door. "Have you finished discussing your situation, Mr Mitchell?"

Charters gave a sickly grin. "He has and prepared to admit to a charge of manslaughter if your officer dies."

Joyce leant on the door frame. "I don't believe he has a choice as I decide the charge, not you. You may follow me to the interview room, and I will ask the questions. I'll be honest: Your client is not going home tonight. I will recommend to the court to refuse bail."

"You may recommend, Chief Inspector, but the judge decides."

Joyce turned her head as she walked away. "I'm telling you. Not for a double murder."

"Have I misunderstood? You want to charge my client with two murders."

Bob Andrews, a sergeant, opened the door to the interview room and followed them inside. "At the moment, it is one murder and one attempted murder. I have enough evidence to have him locked away for a long time. He can apply for his state pension before he leaves prison. Please sit at the table while I find a constable to take notes. The sergeant will act as a witness."

Joyce returned with Constable Inglis.

"Mr Charters, I am unwrapping two new tapes and inserting them into the recording machine." She pressed the record button, gave the date and time, and named those present.

Joyce asked with her files open in front of her. "Mr Peter Mitchell, do you know a Christabel Anderson?"

"I know plenty of women."

"Please answer yes or no."

"The name sounds familiar."

"Mr Charters, Mr Mitchell. I have time on my side. Cooperate, or I will return you to your cell and go home to a meal cooked by my husband." She pushed a photograph taken from CCTV across the table. "You are standing behind a young man who you stabbed. The woman in front of him is Miss Anderson."

Mitchell stared at the picture. "Could be me, but I'm better looking." He handed it to Charters. "What do you think?"

"Not clear. It could be a thousand people." He lifted the photo. "If this is your evidence, my client has no further comment."

Joyce remained calm and removed another photo from her file. "Why are you standing next to this man with a pool of blood seeping from underneath his body?"

"Wrong place, wrong time."

"What would you say if I told you I have a witness who says Jack Watson paid you to kill this man?"

"I would say you're talking through your arse. If it was true and Jack found out, he would deal with it."

Joyce leant on the table. "How?"

"I don't know. You'll have to ask Jack."

She studied him for a moment and smiled. "Mr Mitchell, will you stand up, please?"

"Why?"

"Because I am about to confirm two charges. One is for the nightclub stabbing and the other the attempted murder of a police officer."

Mitchell showed no response.

Charters turned to Mitchell. "I would stand, or she'll get a couple of her officers to lift you to your feet."

"Not guilty to the nightclub thing and manslaughter for your mate."

Joyce nodded. "Mr Mitchell, I have the evidence to charge you. You have the right to plead how you wish. Do you understand the charges?"

He nodded.

"Sergeant, escort Mr Mitchell to his cell." She lifted her folder and waited for Mitchell to leave. "Mr Charters, I have the evidence and eyewitnesses to both crimes. Your client thinks Jack Watson will get him out of this mess. It ain't going to happen."

Charters grinned. "He has the intelligence of a rocking horse, but I'll do my best for him. It pays for my holidays in Bermuda."

Joyce stopped the tape machine, removed two tapes and gave Charters one. "See you in court."

"I'm sure you will, Chief Inspector."

***

Maggie read the single-sheet reports on three missing women. "You want me to check them out, guv?"

"I do, but where are we going with this? You know we don't have a single lead. Before I request further action, the boss will ask why. In all honesty, I cannot give him an answer. For the first time in my career, I don't know."

"Sir, before you decide, let me check these out."

"You're right, but do we have anything on this vicar?"