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– he chose one that was hidden from the neighbours and in the emptiest part of the house, which suggests to me that he’s been planning this for some time. And given that he’s been so careful about that, he’s not likely to have been sloppy over other things. So we won’t find his prints in the house, the car he used was probably stolen, and if he thought there was any chance of him being spotted, he was probably wearing a disguise.’
    â€˜How would he have got her out of the house?’ Crane asked.
    â€˜I don’t know,’ Paniatowski admitted.
    â€˜She’s not a big woman,’ Beresford said. ‘In fact, she’s quite tiny. He could have fitted her into a sack or a largish box.’
    Paniatowski’s eyes narrowed. ‘Oh, you know her, do you, Colin?’ she asked sharply,
    â€˜I’ve . . . err . . . met her,’ Beresford said.
    â€˜And what’s she like?’
    â€˜As I said, she’s petite.’
    â€˜I mean, as a person.’
    â€˜I only met her the once,’ Beresford said, evasively.
    â€˜But you must surely have formed some impression of her.’
    â€˜Lively,’ Beresford said. ‘Charming. Very outgoing.’
    â€˜Did she also strike you as the kind of woman who might consider doing a bunk?’
    â€˜I thought you’d already dismissed that as a possibility, boss,’ Beresford protested.
    â€˜ Did she strike you that way?’
    â€˜The window was forced, boss.’
    â€˜If she’s done a bunk, she could have forced it herself in order to throw everybody off the scent – and you still haven’t answered the question,’ Paniatowski said.
    â€˜No, she didn’t look like that kind of woman,’ Beresford said. ‘In fact, she seemed quite devoted to Mr Kershaw.’
    â€˜Well, isn’t that nice,’ Paniatowski said sourly. ‘All right, we’ll go back to the assumption she’s been abducted, even if we don’t know how he got her out of the house. Now who’d have been likely to snatch her?’
    â€˜Could be a kidnapper – for ransom,’ Crane suggested.
    â€˜We’d already dismissed that possibility before you arrived – and there are two good reasons for that,’ Paniatowski told him. ‘The first – as Kershaw pointed out himself – is that he’s not a rich man.’ She paused and turned to her inspector. ‘He isn’t a rich man, is he, Colin?’
    â€˜How would I know?’ Beresford wondered out loud.
    â€˜And the second thing is that if she’s been kidnapped for ransom, then the kidnapper must be a hardened professional criminal,’ Paniatowski continued, ignoring the question. ‘And no professional criminal is going to snatch such a high-risk target as a Chief Superintendent’s wife.’
    â€˜Do you have a theory, boss?’ Beresford asked.
    â€˜I think it was personal,’ Paniatowski said, ‘ so personal that the kidnapper was prepared to take on the whole of the Mid Lancs police force if he had to.’
    â€˜What sort of motive are we talking about here?’ Crane asked.
    â€˜I don’t know,’ Paniatowski confessed. ‘He may have wanted to get back at her, or he may have wanted to get back at Kershaw. But whichever is the case, he will have known her, and that’s why, first thing in the morning, we’ll be talking to all – and I do mean all – of the Kershaws’ friends and relatives.’
    â€˜That’s a bit of a tall order, especially with the friends,’ Beresford said. ‘They’re a very popular couple.’
    â€˜Yes, well, you’d know more about that than I would, wouldn’t you, Inspector?’ Paniatowski said.
    The clock struck the hour, and once again Marie heard the click-clack of Lucy’s impossibly high heels approaching.
    â€˜I’ve got some good news for you,’