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Suzanne’s house for tea, but always came home later in the evening,’ Shanila said, softly.
    ‘And what did Yasmin take with her?’
    ‘As far as I know the usual things: a change of underclothes, toiletries. Other than that it’s hard to tell.’
    ‘And you have no idea where else Yasmin may have gone. Are there any friends or relatives she might have gone to stay with instead?’
    ‘I’ve contacted everyone I can think of. We have family in London, Bradford.’
    ‘What about your cousin Ameenah?’ Mohammed Akram asked of his wife.
    ‘I’ve called them.’
    ‘I understand Yasmin’s sister lives abroad.’
    ‘In Lahore,’ said Shanila Akram.
    ‘Is there any chance that Yasmin would try to go there?’
    ‘She doesn’t have a passport yet. We are in the process of applying.’
    ‘And she wouldn’t have money for a ticket,’ added Mohammed Akram.
    ‘Mrs Akram, I’d like you to think back to Monday night; Yasmin’s last evening at home. How did she seem then?’
    ‘She was fine.’
    ‘And nothing unusual occurred?’
    ‘Nothing. Except . . . she was late home. There had been a problem with the trains, but it’s not uncommon.’
    ‘Does Yasmin enjoy school?’
    This was safer ground, easier to elaborate. ‘Yes, she’s a clever girl. Her teachers are pleased with her.’
    ‘It was a big decision to allow Yasmin to go to a school outside our own religion,’ Mohammed Akram added. ‘But the high school has an excellent reputation and we felt it would benefit Yasmin’s career prospects to go there, even though it involved extensive travelling.’
    ‘And there was nothing bothering Yasmin that you can think of.’
    A glance between them that Mariner tried in vain to read. Could have simply been a clumsy and belated attempt at mutual reassurance.
    ‘Nothing.’ It was Shanila who spoke.
    ‘Yasmin hadn’t fallen out with any of her friends?’ Millie asked. ‘It happens all the time with girls that age.’
    Mohammed Akram spoke up. ‘If there is anything on Yasmin’s mind she would tell us. She’s a sensible girl, and we are very close. The family is important to us and we always encourage our children to be open and honest with us, so that we can support them.’ Recited like a mantra.
    ‘Anything could have happened to her. She’s so young—’ Shanila Akram’s voice cracked with emotion.
    Millie leaned over and put a hand on the woman’s arm, demonstrating the value of her presence. ‘The vast majority of missing persons turn up alive and well within seventy-two hours, Mrs Akram,’ she said. ‘We’ll do everything we can to find Yasmin.’
    ‘We’ll need to look at her room,’ Mariner said, offering something practical to focus on. ‘It’s just routine, but the sooner we can do that the better.’
    ‘I’ll come with you,’ Akram volunteered.
    ‘That may not be necessary. You said that Yasmin’s grandmother is at home? If she can let us in—’
    ‘Yes, of course, I’ll let her know you’re coming.’
    ‘Then we won’t keep you any longer,’ said Mariner. He took a business card from his inside pocket and handed it to Mohammed Akram. ‘If Yasmin does contact you, or you think of anything, however small, that might help, give me a call at any time. And of course we, in turn, will keep you informed.’
    ‘I’ll keep in touch,’ Millie reassured Shanila Akram.
    ‘Thank you.’
    It was Mohammed Akram who stood to show them out. Signalling for Millie to go on ahead, Mariner waited until he and Akram had descended the stairs and were alone in the lobby before saying, ‘Mr Akram, when you first came in you seemed to think that we might be here about something else. You asked your wife about some letters. Do these relate to the graffiti outside?’
    Akram rubbed a hand over his face. ‘And the rest. It’s become a way of life for us: graffiti, bricks through the windows, dog excrement through the letterbox. Recently my car was damaged.’ His eyes lit up as he seized