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‘Yeah, get back away from the driveway On the pavement ,’ said Erika He rolled his eyes and took a couple of paces back

They walked off in the direction of nuhtly and the houses to their left were lower than the road, each driveway sloped down On their right the houses sat on a bank, so he driveways led up

’So we’ve got all these houses, shrouded in trees and shrubs on both sides,’ said Erika

‘That’s it, we’re here,’ said Moss They came to a stop outside number 27 It was a cream coloured two storey house with faux pillars out front The driveway had just been resurfaced and drops of rainwater clung like mercury to the unblemished surface

‘The house has its second lot of neners since 1990,’ said Moss They stood for a moment and looked up and down the street

‘The halfway house where Trevor Marksman lived at the ti for a few more minutes, and cae three storey manor house sat on the other side of the road, nestled in the crease It was painted a buttery yellow, and itsfralean on the e black letters told them this was now The Swann Retirement Home

They turned and were afforded a clear view of the whole street sloping away, past number 27 and down to their car parked on the kerb and the photographers who had grown in nulea It was the only sound on the street and it echoed

‘That’s it It took us less than four minutes to walk here’

‘Whoever did it ht not have taken her far, Hayes quarry is less than a mile away’

How could she just vanish?’ said Erika

‘She did just vanish,’ said Moss The croed again, as if in agreement

‘What now, Boss?’ asked Peterson

‘I think we should pay Amanda Baker a visit’

20

‘This can’t be right,’ said Erika as they pulled up at an end of terrace house The s coat of paint was peeling from the sash s The street was quiet, and it had just started to rain