But it wasn’t his need to pee that woke him at 5 a.m. It was a call. He fumbled for both his phone and the bedside lamp, waking Brillo in the process. He couldn’t quite focus on the screen but pressed the phone to his ear anyway.
‘Dad?’ His daughter Samantha’s urgent voice.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, sitting up, growing more awake by the second.
‘Your landline – it’s been cut off.’
‘I meant to tell you about that … '
'About what?’
‘My landline’s not the reason you’re calling at this hour. Is it Carrie?’
‘She’s fine.’
‘What then? Are you all right?’
‘It’s Keith.’
Her partner; Carrie’s father. Rebus swallowed. ‘What’s happened?’ He listened as Samantha began to sob quietly. Her voice cracked when she spoke.
‘He’s gone.’
‘The bastard … ’
‘Not like that … I don’t think so anyway.’ She sniffed. ‘I mean, I don’t really know. He’s disappeared. It’s been two days.’
‘And things were all right at home?’
‘No worse than usual.’
‘But you don’t think he’s just – I don’t know – maybe gone on a bender somewhere?’
‘He’s not like that.’
‘You’ve reported him missing?’
‘They’re sending someone to talk to me.’
‘They probably told you two days isn’t long?’
‘Yes. But his phone just goes to voicemail.’
‘And he didn’t pack a bag or anything?’
‘No. We’ve got a joint bank account – I looked online and he’s not bought anything or taken money out. His car was left in the lay-by near the church.'
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