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open-hearted country girl. She liked a drink and a good time. She got along with everyone.’
    ‘No students who took a dislike to her?’
    ‘Asked and answered.’
    ‘Nobody come to mind who behaved inappropriately towards her?’
    ‘Define inappropriate.’
    ‘Any male students being excessively attentive, perhaps using over-sexualised language in front of her, that sort of thing.’
    ‘Only me.’
    ‘What about other ex-boyfriends on campus?’
    ‘Nope.’ Davison pondered for a second. ‘She had a serious boyfriend back in Belfast, but she gave him the heave-ho before she left the bogs.’
    ‘Do you have a name?’
    ‘Paddy Something?’ He caught the current of Brook’s scepticism. ‘Seriously. But she only mentioned him the one time, and only because I asked. She was living a different life in Derby so she cut him loose.’
    ‘What about her tutors and lecturers? Any hint of sexual harassment?’
    ‘She never mentioned it to me if there was.’
    ‘What about her grades?’
    ‘What about them?’
    ‘They’re not spectacular. Did she ever complain that someone was marking her down?’
    ‘No. And Kitty’s grades are fine. She was happy enough. She wasn’t that bright and she certainly didn’t work too hard. She was overachieving, you ask me.’
    ‘Was?’
    The young man shrugged. ‘She’s in the past. My past, at least. Are we done?’
    Are we done? Brook ignored the temptation to make his next question Are you American? ‘What do you think happened to her?’
    Davison shrugged. ‘She may have been nabbed by some random sex-starved pervert. Ever thought it might be that simple?’
    ‘Then he’s the most careful sex-starved pervert in criminal history,’ answered Brook. Davison actually laughed at this. ‘What about travel? Could she have simply upped sticks and left?’
    ‘That would be more likely. She loved travel and new places. You should check the airports and ferry ports.’
    ‘Good idea,’ said Brook. He held up a hand to forestall another protest. ‘Lowest form of humour – I heard you the first time. Anywhere she might go in Britain if she wanted to get away?’
    Davison narrowed his eyes. ‘Are you saying she hasn’t left the country?’
    ‘I’m not saying anything. I’m asking you a question.’
    ‘I guess her top destination would be London.’ Brook prompted him with a raised eyebrow. ‘Bright lights, big city. Streets paved with gold and all that.’
    ‘Alone?’
    ‘Kitty’s self-reliant, and if she wanted to go somewhere badly enough, she’d drop everything and go. I assume that could apply to some man she met, but I have no idea who that might be.’
    ‘She sounds very trusting,’ said Brook.
    ‘There’s no side to her,’ said Davison. ‘She takes people as she finds them, but she can handle herself. Depend on it.’
    ‘How did she handle herself with you?’ Davison emitted a short laugh. ‘Something you want to share?’
    The young man sighed. ‘We broke up. Was Caitlin happy I dumped her? No. But she was too level-headed to let it worry her for more than a second. She was never clingy or jealous, because she knew how uncool that was. She took the rough with the smooth and didn’t hold grudges. And there were no regrets on either side when we split.’
    ‘Final question – can you confirm where you were on the night of March twentieth?’

Five
     
    Brook sipped team from his flask as he looked out across the lights of Derby’s dark horizon. Light rain dotted the windows.
    Noble closed the door of the office and flopped down on his chair, hands stretched behind his head. ‘That’s one day I’ll never get back. I don’t know why we bother nicking burglars. They never get locked up.’ He sighed, opting to jettison the rest of the well-worn conversation, flicked on the kettle and stole a quick glance at Caitlin’s photograph. ‘What about you?’
    ‘I spoke to Laurie,’ answered Brook. ‘The boyfriend too.’
    ‘And did Davison push your