He unbuckled his seat belt and released the handbrake. For a moment, the car remained stationary, then began to roll forwards, hollow rumble of tyres the only sound. He crossed his arms to resist the urge to grab the wheel and forced his legs back from the brake. See, Randy, I always had the guts. Faster and faster. The car was rocking as it raced to the cliff’s edge, blurred by the vibration. There was a desperate, terrifying second of wanting it to stop, then complete silence and the sea flashing across his vision as the car dipped like a saffron diving fish.
Lambert’s own weight hurled his head against the roof, then he fell back and whiplash snapped his neck. The car turned over once again, then smashed on to the rocks, the windscreen splintering in fragments caught by a breaking wave that scattered in a seething silver cascade of glass and violent spray.
*
‘Suffolk Constabulary.’
‘Good morning, I don’t know who I should speak to, but my wife hasn’t come home and —’
‘One moment, please.’
‘Control Room.’
‘Good morning, I’m concerned about my wife. She didn’t come home last night.’
‘Where had she been, sir?’
‘She was visiting friends of ours in Gedding. I’ve spoken to them and they say she left there about seven o’clock.’
‘And she mentioned nothing to them about going on somewhere?’
‘No … She wanted to leave in time to watch a television programme.’
‘Why haven’t you reported this sooner?’
‘I’ve been on a business trip. I only returned half an hour ago. Our daughter’s away on an art course at the moment, otherwise she’d have let me know what had happened.’
‘And you’re absolutely sure your wife was going straight home?’
‘Yes. There’s nowhere else she might have gone. She was expecting an interior designer here this morning. We’re having our … It doesn’t matter … She’d have kept the appointment.’
‘Was she all right when you last saw her?’
‘Perfectly … I tried calling about ten o’clock last night, but got the answerphone.’
‘And you weren’t concerned?’
‘There was no reason to be … She could have been in the shower. I just left a message confirming what time I’d be back.’
‘Have you tried contacting any other friends?’
‘Some of them, but they can’t help. This is completely unlike her. If she’d been held up, she’d have let me know. I’m worried something’s happened to her.’
‘That’s obviously a possibility, sir, but in most cases like this people turn up safe and sound … Where do you live, sir?’
‘Finch.’
‘Finch? One moment please.’ In the pause there were muffled voices, then a faint sense of urgency. ‘May I just confirm these details, sir? Your wife left Gedding about seven o’clock and was going straight to Finch … Would she have used the road through Ash Sounder?’
‘Probably. It’s the quickest way … Why?’
‘I just needed to check it, sir … Are you at the house at the moment?’
‘Yes.’
‘Will you remain there, please? We’ll send officers round.’
‘Thank you, but … what’s happened?’
‘Have you seen the papers this morning, sir?’
‘No. I set off before breakfast.’
‘Did you listen to any news on the radio?’
‘No. I don’t … What are you talking about?’
‘The officers will explain when they arrive. I don’t want you to worry unnecessarily, but there has been a serious incident in your area. We’re hunting a man who may have stolen a car.’
‘Oh my God.’
‘I’m sorry to have had to tell you this, but it is an urgent inquiry.’
‘Is he dangerous?’
‘Yes … but it may have nothing to do with your wife. Can you ring anyone else you can think of and let us know immediately if she turns up?’
‘Of course, but … You think something’s happened to her?’
‘We’re just taking every precaution, sir. It’s very important that we trace this man … Are you still there, sir?’
‘Yes … all right. But she’d have let me know if … How dangerous is he?’
‘Please, sir. I’m sure your wife’s perfectly safe, but we have to … What make of car does she drive?’
‘A Volvo 850 saloon … yellow.’
‘Do you know the registration number? Thank you. We’ll put out an immediate alert. In the meantime, the officers are on their way … I’ll need your name and address, sir.’
‘Graveney. Oliver Graveney …’
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