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first thing tomorrow.’
    Melsom arrived to take over the watch, and they drove back to Swanage. They spent the rest of the afternoon crosschecking the reports from the house and farm visits, but to no avail. Sophie was pondering her next move. Melsom’s call came in the late afternoon, as dusk was falling. Marsh hurried across to Sophie.
    ‘Jimmy says they’ve gone, ma’am.’
    ‘What? How could they? Is there another track? The map didn’t show one.’
    ‘They didn’t leave in the pick-up. Jimmy walked down as it began to get dark, and it’s still there in the yard. But there are no signs of life in the house or in any of the sheds. He had a good look.’
    ‘What, in the house as well?’
    ‘It’s been left unlocked.’
    ‘This is getting weird. Let’s get back over there.’
    The pick-up was still where it had been left. All of the farm buildings were empty and the farmhouse door was unlocked. Darkness had fallen and the farmyard was inky black.
    ‘I called, but there was no answer. I’ve had a quick look around and there’s no one here, ma’am, not as far as I can tell.’
    ‘How could they have got away do you think? On foot, or by boat?’ asked Sophie.
    ‘I’d plump for the boat,’ Marsh answered. ‘I think we should check round the back to see if there’s a track that side. I thought there might be when we were here earlier. Do you have a torch in the car, ma’am?’
    The three detectives walked round to the rear of the yard, and found a rough track. It passed through a gloomy copse of trees and turned a corner. Spread out before them lay the huge expanse of Poole Harbour. The dark waters lapped close to the bank.
    ‘High tide,’ said Melsom.
    They could see a wooden jetty thrusting out into the water.
    ‘A vehicle’s been down this track and it looks well used,’ said Marsh.
    Sophie cast her torch beam around the area.
    ‘I think we’ve lost them.’ She walked a short distance along the shoreline. ‘There’s a smell of smoke in the air. Part wood smoke, but not entirely. Can you smell it, Barry?’
    ‘Now you mention it, yes. It’s a bit faint though.’
    Sophie continued to walk along the shoreline, shining the torch beam into the trees. Melsom walked in the opposite direction, but neither spotted anything. Marsh had walked a short way back along the track.
    ‘I think it’s inland a bit. The smell gets stronger in the copse, up at the northern end.’
    They picked their way through the trees and came out in a small clearing, partly lit by the moon. A small fire had been made in a pit where the charred remains of some rubbish gave off the occasional spark.
    ‘Jimmy, could you find a pole of some sort and see if you can rescue some of those remains before they smoulder away completely? I saw some back in the sheds.’ Sophie turned to Marsh. ‘I think we’ll get a small forensics team in, Barry. Could you contact HQ? I want the pick-up fingerprinted as well as the inside of the house. And these charred bits and pieces need to be looked at. There’s something odd about this place.’
    As she turned, she caught sight of a pale figure watching them from the edge of the trees, half hidden behind a bush. Looking away, she spoke softly to her sergeant.
    ‘Don’t look. We’re being watched from over on the left. I think it’s a young woman. Stay where you are. I’m going to move around to that side.’
    Sophie slowly manoeuvred her way around the glowing embers and backed towards the spot where she’d seen the figure. She turned suddenly and found herself facing a pale, shivering teenage girl. She was naked apart from a towel wrapped around her torso.
    Sophie held out her hand.
    ‘Don’t be frightened. I’m a police officer. I can help you.’
    The girl’s eyes were wide with fear, and she was shaking uncontrollably. Sophie took off her long overcoat and held it open for the girl to walk into. The girl stepped forward hesitantly. Sophie smiled at her.
    ‘You’re safe now.