No, thank Christ, but they're not even in the piggery section yet. They've been carted off, the pigs; apparently the landlord of the place swilled everywhere down and hosed their pens, so maybe we won't find anything. I hope to God we don't.'

Anna fixed her mask in place, and drew back the flap of the tent to go back in.

Langton was kneeling, leaning in very close to the body. As he straightened, he saw her and gestured for her to come to his side. Her heart felt as if it was going to explode in her chest; she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She clenched her teeth to maintain control, thankful the mask hid part of her face.

It was as if the past eighteen months of living with him had never happened and the horror of his injuries had not taken place. He showed no sign of any kind of emotion on seeing her; on the contrary, he was cold and professional, even down to the tone of his voice.

You've identified her, right?'

Yes, sir.'

Do you want to take another look, just to be certain?'

They have contacted her mother.'

I know, but it's going to take some time to bring her here from Newcastle, so I'd like to be sure.'

Anna bent down and again looked at the mottled, beaten face of Gail Sickert.

Yes, it's her.'

Good. Right, we might as well let her go to the mortuary now, so we can head back to the incident room.' Langton gestured to the forensic team. They're going to have to sift through that heap of bloody manure and then do a search of every inch of the place. He could have fed the kids to the pigs, but the landlord-'

She interrupted. I knowhe swilled the pens down.'

Right.' Langton walked ahead of her and lifted the flap to exit.

Anna followed and began to remove her paper suit. He was already rolling his into a tight ball and chucking it into the bin provided.

You remember the Fred West case?' he grunted.

Of course I do.'

The only way the teams could sift through his stinking garden was to shovel everything through women's tights. We're a bit more advanced, but not that much, so these poor bastards have a filthy job on their hands. We're looking for bone fragments; anything that might indicate the children died here as well.'

Anna followed him as he strode across the muddy yard; the rain had stopped, but the puddles were still deep. He was wearing big black Wellington boots and his old brown Driza-Bone raincape. As he reached the area where the squad cars were parked, she saw him light a cigarette. So much for his health regime!

Langton turned and saw her Mini parked on the bank at the side of the potholed drive. See you there.'

He got into the patrol car and was driven away. He had shown not so much as a flicker of emotion, nor had he made any reference to the situation between them. It was hard for her to be able to maintain her cool, but Anna felt that so far, she'd done well. Question was, would she be able to keep it up?

The incident room in the Hampshire station was still pretty rough, but they had shipped in more computers and there now were eight desks. Anna placed her briefcase onto her allocated desk next to Harry Blunt's; he was sucking peppermints.

Christ, the stench clings to you, doesn't it?'

Yes,' she said, taking off her jacket and placing it onto the back of her chair.

You think the fucker fed the kids to the pigs?'

Harry, I don't knowbut like you said, I hope to God he didn't.'

Langton walked in and signalled to Anna to join him.

I want you to sit with the artist we've brought in from London and get an Identikit picture of this Sickert. We need it out as fast as possible. We've no trace on him or any kind of record, so he's using an assumed name, is an illegal immigrant, whatever. Wherever he is, if he's still got the kids with him, he's going to be easier to trace.'

Langton turned to Mike Lewis, who gave Anna a half-smile of acknowledgement as he handed over photographs. Local school had these taken at half-term, so they're up to date: a boy aged six, and a girl aged seven, both white...'

Anna interjected, The baby, the little girl I saw, was also white, about eighteen months old.'

She's twenty-four months,' Langton said. They had reports on her from the local clinic. He gestured at the board: as yet, it was empty. We are hoping Gail's mother will bring some photographs of the victim, but we want these kids' faces up there and out to the press. So, Annaget cracking on the drawing, and then work on an ident computer image. We want it out asap.'

The whole place was hopping. The local officers attached to the investigation were running around like scalded hens. Langton threw out instructions and orders at such a pace, you could see them virtually tripping over each other.

Anna sat for over an hour with the artist. By that time, he had a likeness, or as much of one as she was able to remember. They then worked together on the computerized images to see if she could better it.

Langton walked in and leaned against the back of her chair. How much longer?'

I am going as fast as I can,' the artist said.

Anna remained silent and concentrated on the computer image. She could feel Langton close, almost touching her; she moved away slightly.

Okay. As soon as you are through, Anna, I want you in the incident room for a briefing.'

She was about to say something when he walked away.

Anna was printing off the images of Joseph Sickert when she was called to Langton's office. This was connected to the incident room, but was very small and cramped.

Is this about the briefing?' she asked.

That tape recording of Sickertyou still have it?'

Yes, I've brought it in.'

Good. You can leave it with me.'

She nodded. I'll go and get it.'

She walked out and returned to her desk. She had just taken the tape out from her briefcase, when Langton appeared and bellowed that he wanted everyone gathered for a briefing. As he made his way to stand in front of everyone, she noticed that he limped slightly; maybe the damp and wet from the piggery had got to him. She thought how much she would have liked to tip that manure over his head.

Okay, everyone, listen up.'

They gathered round, the locals standing at the back of the room. By now, the incident-room board had been worked on. Photographs of the two children and the sketch of Sickert were now pinned up. There were also numerous other pictures and details that Anna was unable to check out at that moment, as everyone was focused on Langton.

We have a pretty solid ID of the victim made by DI Travis, but we will still need her to be formally identified by her mother, who should be here around six o'clock. The mortuary by then will have cleaned up the victim; she will be covered so as to cause as little anguish as possible. We have the children's photographs, as you can see; as yet, no remains have been recovered. We also have an Identikit picture of our suspect, known as Joseph Sickert.'

Langton continued the briefing, covering the ground usual at this early stage of an enquiry. The post mortem and subsequent report would not be available to them for some time; all they knew was that the body had been mutilated; her arms and legs were still missing. He told everyone that it was imperative they get as much help from the locals, the social services and the local stores.

They lived there for over a year, so they must have known plenty of people. So get out there and find out as much as you can. The focus is on Sickert: we have to find him. We need to track down anyone with any information.'

Langton went on, asking for the landlord, Tom Adams, to be pumped for more information. The pigs had been taken to another location; the police would perform tests and possibly even slaughter one or more to find out if they had human remains in their intestines. He made everyone laugh when he said that Adams was up in arms about them being slaughtered; he'd said, in a state of fury, that they were not ready. He planned on feeding them up before selling them onto the market and it would be down to the police to pay for them!

Langton then gave a brief rundown of what they had otherwise been able to get from Mr Adams: he did recall Joseph Sickert, and had had a few exchanges with him, as he had done with Gail's previous husband. Adams had agreed to pay Sickert some money, as the man had said he would clean the piggery and build a henhouse.

The only other person that Adams admitted to seeing at the bungalow apart from Gail's children was...' Langton smiled and lifted a statement.

I'll quote his actual words, so no one's going to aim anti-racial slurs at me. Mr Adams says, "There was another darkie standing in the kitchen, but if it wasn't for his hair being shorter than Sickert'she wasn't wearing that carpet thing on his headI wouldn't have known if it was him or not, as they all look alike to me!'"

Anna had to hand it to him; Langton was a performer, able to mimic Adams to perfection. The team smiled.

Langton held a long pause before continuing. One last thing. I don't know how much you have been told about my recovery, but to assuage any gossip, I have been given the all clearupstairs and down. I intend to give this case one hundred per cent and I want each and every one of you to do the same. I want this man Sickert caught. He is our prime suspect.'

He did another one of his famous pauses and tapped a desk with his pencil.

Travis and Harry Blunt got a tip-off in their investigation of Irene Phelps's murder from a photograph of Gail Sickert's: Arthur Murphy was hiding out with a known criminal and child molester, Vernon Kramer. They were able to pick up Murphy because of his association with Kramer. Kramer may well have fathered Gail's youngest child. Our missing suspect would also have known Kramer, so I am making him a priority. I want to interview him as soon as possible-'

Langton was interrupted by Mike Lewis, who had taken a call at his desk.

Sir, could you please take this call? It's from the murder site.'

The room fell silent as Langton picked up the phone. He said little, listening to the caller; it seemed to take an interminable time until he ended the call with a long sigh. He then faced the room.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorryit's not good. They have just discovered the skull of a small child.'

Chapter Nine.

Vernon Kramer was not a happy man. He was in Wandsworth prison for his part in harbouring Murphy and, as he had broken his parole in so doing, he was now forced to serve out, in addition, what remained of his previous sentence. He now faced three and a half years inside. He was brought before Langton and Anna with two guards, who remained outside the interview room. Vernon was already sweating, and after Langton introduced himself, he seemed even more agitated.

Okay, Vernon. Tell me about the time you went to see Gail and Joseph Sickert. You went to see them at the piggerythe place we found Gail's body. Vernon?'

Vernon's mouth gaped open and he sat back in his chair.

Anna glanced at Langton. She knew that, in reality, he was just surmising that Vernon had to have met Joseph Sickert; they still could not be certain of this.

No, I never saw them there. I swear before God, I didn't see them.'

Langton leaned over the table. Quit fucking around. You went to visit Gail and Joseph Sickert. When was this?'

Oh, shit.'

When?'

Just before me trial. Listen, this Rashid almost broke me door down and he punched me around.'

Rashid? Who's he, Vernon?'

He was at the same hostel.'

What's his surname?'

I dunno, I swear to you.'

Langton glared at him.

Maybe it's Burry, somethin' like that. I just know him as Rashid, nothin' else. He came and went at the hostel; I dunno if he was supposed to be there, but he was. When she,' he nodded towards Anna, when she turned up at the hostel, he got very jumpy.'

Was this Rashid the man who slammed the door in my face?' Anna asked.

I dunno, just he knew the cops were there, and he didn't like it.'

Did he also know Arthur Murphy?'

Yeah, yeah, I guess so.'

Describe him,' snapped Langton.

Vernon twisted in his chair. He was a huge black guy; had some missing teeth in the front.'

So, why did you go to see Sickert? Come on, Vernonwe know that you and Murphy were there together, so, this second time, why did you go?'

'Cos Rashid told me he was sick.'

Langton sighed. He began tapping the table with his fingers.

Vernon started to fidget even more in his seat. Look, this is the God's honest truth. Rashid was in a real bad mood, because the cops were crawling all over the hostel. When I come back, he starts on meyou know, wanting to know what was going on. I said to him it was Murphy: he'd been done for murder and they done me for letting him kip on my floor.'

Vernon then told them about a phone conversation: Sickert had called Rashid to say the cops had been to the bungalow. Rashid was very edgy about what was going on. Apparently, some friend of his had cut up a cop', and he was paranoid that was the reason they'd been at the bungalow.

Anna gave a covert look at Langton. She could see that his whole body had tensed, and could feel her own nerves jangling. The interview was taking a very dangerous twist.

He thought they was there because they'd sussed it out.' Vernon was now shaking.

Sussed what out?' Langton asked.

Rashid really put the frighteners on me, you knowasking if the Murphy thing was for real, or just a cover to get into the hostel and check who was there. I said to him that it was for real. I knew about this bloke that got cut: it was in the paper on the seat of the cop car. I then said to him that it might be, you know, a sort of double-up check as she was in the car.' Vernon pointed to Anna again.

Just go over that again, Vernon. You are in a patrol car?'

Yeah, I was carrying back fish and chips, right? Been down the chippy when I get busted. I get manhandled into a cop carit was round the corner from the hostel, right? I get shoved in the car and there's a uniformed bloke at the wheel and another standing by the car, right? And I am sittin' thereI mean, I knew I was done for, right? So I wasn't gonna create, and there's this newspaper on the back seat. I pick it up and there's a big headline about the cop what got slashed. Now, I swear before God, I dunno the connections, I dunno nothing about it. Then she gets into the passenger seat.' Again Vernon gestured towards Anna.

Go on,' Langton grated.

Well, the driver leans over and takes the newspaper off me, and he says to her,' Vernon pointed at Anna, he says something about it was still making headlines. I mean, I can't remember the exact words, but it was something about did she know him, what a great bloke he was; and she says they was close, something like that.'