Inside, he checked the progress the team had made in their initial attempts to trace Christine Shapland.
Shes a vulnerable adult, she has a learning disability and the mental age of a child.
He thought Christine was different from Lucy, less confident and more sheltered.
Shes been missing for at least one night.
And her disappearance might be linked to the Crow Point murder.
He added the last sentence to make them take the matter more seriously.
The young officers saw murder as exciting, sexy.
In their eyes, a middle-aged missing woman with a learning disability certainly wouldnt be.
She lived in one of the cottages on the marsh, not far from where Waldens body was found.
Weve checked the hospital and her GP practice.
Nobodys heard from her.
This was Gary Luke, the oldest member of the team, relaxed, fatherly.
Anyone been in touch with the Woodyard?
Yes, Christine was definitely there all day yesterday.
Her uncle dropped her off in the morning and they assumed hed be picking her up.
The centres trying to encourage a degree of independence, so they didnt actually accompany her to the car.
Vicki Robb was young, keen.
Matthew was already impressed.
Has anyone spoken to the aunt and uncle?
Not yet, Vicki said.
I could go if youd like me to.
No, Ill do it.
Theres another call I need to make in Lovacott anyway.
It would be interesting to catch up with Dennis Salter after all these years.
And this was a good excuse to leave the office.
If youve got a moment, Matthew …
Oldhams office was like its owner: shabby, untidy.
Matthew had always been wary of the man.
There was something about his attitude to Matthew that wasnt dislike exactly, but more akin to distaste.
Something Oldham couldnt help and tried to control, but a prejudice that was always there under the surface.
He also found the DCI an object of pity.
Theyd had no family.
Ross, the son of a good friend, was the closest thing he had.
This Crow Point murder.
Oldham leaned back in his chair.
I understand the victim worked at the Woodyard?
He was a volunteer there.
And your partner runs the place?
A moment of silence.
And it seems that the woman with Downs syndrome whos missing was abducted from there.
Matthew took a deep breath.
I wondered if I should withdraw from the case.
I obviously have a conflict of interest.
Perhaps you should take over as SIO.
Oldham closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them very slowly.
Matthew watched the lids slide up and was reminded of a lizard, or perhaps a crocodile.
No need for that, Oldham said at last.
I trust my team.
Just keep me in the loop.
If you cock up, well both be in the shit, and thats the last thing I need.
The light was fading and the weather was changing.
It was still warm but the air felt heavy with rain.
He hadnt noticed any of the landmarks that hed glimpsed from the bus.
Christines aunt and uncle lived in a tall, straight, confident house right on the square.
Once, Matthew thought, a merchant might have stayed there, trading in wool, spreading prosperity.
Now it was the home of Grace and Dennis Salter, stalwarts of the Barum Brethren.
Hed known them since he was a child.
Before that, Matthew had liked the man.
Grace he hardly remembered at all.
Hed been in that room with his parents.
Occasionally meetings had been held there.
There was dark varnished panelling on the walls, a long, polished table.
That had been their private space, more comfortable and more welcoming.
He rang the doorbell and Dennis appeared, older of course, but recognizable.
A generous lions head, made even bigger by a mane of white hair, large features.
Matthew held out his hand.
Perhaps you remember me.
Of course I remember you.
Come on in, man, dont stand out there on the doorstep.
The arms wide now in greeting.
Matthew was astonished by the response.
Did Salter think hed returned to the fold?
Or had time mellowed him?
Perhaps he was less dogmatic now than Dorothy, Matthews mother, despite his position of authority.
Perhaps he welcomed sinners into his home as well as the chosen.
Youll be here about Christine.
Yes, shes still not turned up and were getting concerned.
She would probably have asked his permission first.
Matthews visit wouldnt be any kind of surprise to the man.
You were taking care of her so Susan could go to my fathers funeral?
At least Grace was.
I was at the funeral of course.
I couldnt miss that.
Dorothy wanted me to lead the service.
I cant tell you how distressed we are about the confusion.
Im still not quite sure how it happened.
Is Mrs Salter at home?
If so, it would be useful to talk to her too.
Do you really need to speak to Grace?
She feels as dreadful about this as I do, though she wasnt responsible.
It was all my fault.
Shes not a well woman, and the unexpected can throw her off balance.
Id hate this to make her ill again.
Matthew remembered the whispers surrounding Grace Salter now.
Women had been glad to look after Dennis Salter, delivering food parcels and casseroles.
Matthew couldnt remember anyone offering to visit Grace.
I wont keep her for long, but Id like to ask her a few questions.
Christines been missing for a day and a night.
Were taking this extremely seriously.
If you think its important to speak to her …
We all want Christine found.
Matthew sat on his own at the long table, while Dennis disappeared to fetch his wife.
How would she have coped with her niece?
He suspected members were all of his mothers generation now, slowly dying off.
Grace looked like a scarecrow, tall and stick-like, very thin, with wild grey hair.
Her eyes were grey too.
She wore trousers and a hand-knitted jumper that swamped her.
It seemed shed been crying and she twisted a handkerchief in her hands.
Its such a terrible thing to have happened.
Her voice was a surprise, more educated than her sisters, precise.
Could you talk me through the events of the last few days?
I understand that Dennis picked Christine up from her mothers house before the funeral.
Yes, she doesnt go to the day centre on a Monday.
Dennis did the talking.
She spent the day and the evening here.
And how did she seem?
She has a learning disability, Dennis said, and Im never quite sure how much she understands.
Perhaps Im not sufficiently patient.
We didnt have any real conversation the evening after I got back from the funeral.
She loves television so we put it on for her, though we dont tend to watch much ourselves.
She seemed settled enough, didnt she, Grace?
She knows us and shes spent time with us before.
Youve known her since she was a baby, Matthew said.
Youd be able to tell, wouldnt you, if something wasnt quite right?
She was missing Susan, Grace said.
Well, of course she was missing her mother.
Dennis sounded as if he resented the line of questioning.
Perhaps hed thought hed be able to control the conversation as he always had with Matthew in the past.
Or perhaps guilt at not making sure Christine had arrived back in Lovacott safely had made him defensive.
Since Cecil died, theres just been the two of them.
Christine hasnt stayed overnight here since she was a young child.
Susan is very protective.
