Vera returned to the office and barged straight through until she reached her door. She slammed it shut, leaned against it and gently banged her head repeatedly as she shut her eyes, trying to make sense of the situation. She made her way over to her desk and began writing on a piece of paper. As she finished she swept her arm across the end of her desk knocking folders to the floor. She kicked them as she stood up and opened her door. Kenny was going through CCTV footage and Vera placed the piece of paper in front of him. "The list of places we went. I want to know as soon as you find anything, I mean anything Kenny, even you think it may not be relevant".
Kenny nodded, his eyes fixated on the screen in front of him.
Joe appeared. "Nothing yet on the mobile phone. It's best you take it back in case he tries to make contact".
"Anything from the Lyntons". Vera asked.
Joe shook his head. "Nothing".
"Poor sods". Vera muttered.
She walked back into her office and Joe followed. He shut the door behind him so Vera knew he had something to say.
"Are you OK". He asked gently.
"What do you bloody think". She growled as she kicked the files on the floor out of her way.
"We are trying our best, the team has been up all night".
Vera nodded as she sat on her chair. "I know that".
She shook her head. "I never imagined myself in this position. All the families we have dealt with over the years...I now know how they must have felt".
Joe sat on the edge of the desk. "We will find her. I can guarantee that".
"You can't guarantee, have you read that lunatics file. That's what he is Joe a lunatic."
Joe stood up "We have dealt with worse". He began picking the folders up from the floor and placed them on the desk. He had seen her stress over cases and irate but never like this. Her face was colourless and he knew she was a ticking time bomb about to explode. He always worried about her because she didn't seem to have anybody else to do that on her behalf, in fact he loved her like an aunt and felt it was his duty to take care of her.
"I'm not taking the promotion". He blurted out not expecting a response. "I have told them".
Vera watched him as he rearranged her desk. She said nothing, just sat and watched him.
There was a knock and the door slowly opened. It was Greg Lynton.
He entered the office and shut the door behind him. "Have you got a minute". He asked.
Joe left and nodded at Greg.
"Of course". Vera replied in almost a whisper.
"I came to apologise for Rose". He began.
"No need to apologise I understand what she is going through".
"As I said she is very protective of Molly. She didn't mean what she said, she was just lashing out"
Vera shook her head "It's my fault Greg, I should have met her nearer her home. I should never allowed her to come up here. "
He smiled. "Molly is very headstrong, when she gets an idea there's no changing her mind. I wanted her to fly or get the train but she insisted on driving. I should have gone with my instinct and just booked her a train".
"So you didn't mind her finding me". Vera asked.
Greg shook his head. "Not at all. I encouraged her. Maybe it was different for me because she was meeting her Mother not her Father. As I said if Molly gets an idea you have to just go with it. I thought it would be good for her. I just hope you get the chance to know her the way we did". His eyes began to fill up.
Vera gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "I hope so too."
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Boss you need to come see this". Kenny called as he returned to his desk.
Vera and Greg followed.
Kenny showed the footage of them leaving the Indian restaurant and a man wearing a dark top and wooly hat stood across the road watching them before disappearing off.
"That must be him. I wouldn't recognise him after all these years" Vera stated
"I can't get a clear picture" Kenny replied typing furiously on his keyboard. "But he's clearly watching you so it's got to be him".
Kenny finally got the clearest picture he could.
"Oh no no no." Vera sat beside Kenny. "He's the man that runs the food van down by the front. I took Molly there for breakfast Sunday morning. I have often gone there".
Vera gripped her fringe with her hand. "I paraded her in front of him. He must have heard us chat and put two and two together. His ideal opportunity to get me back for his arrest".
Kenny continued typing. "He's not on the DVLA system and would have to have a license for that van so he must be going with a new identity. At least if we get a name we can trace the vehicle to his last known address".
"Get onto it". Vera barked "I'm going down to the sea front".
Greg turned to Vera. "I better get back to Rose and fill her in".
Vera nodded as she grabbed her car keys. "As soon as I hear anything I will let you know".
She pulled up into the small familiar car park and as she had expected there was no sign of the food van.
She walked into the little shop opposite where she would often visit and asked questions but nobody seemed to know anything about the man. The beach was quiet but given the time of year it wasn't unusual.