A student disappears in broad daylight just yards from the university. With potential witnesses beginning to disperse across the country for the Christmas break, DS Pete Gayle is under extra pressure to figure out what happened as quickly as possible. Did she leave of her own accord, unable to cope with the pressures of university? Was she snatched by an ex-boyfriend, a stalker or a random attacker? Or was she targeted because of the way she'd chosen to supplement her student loan?

One disturbing discovery after another draws Pete and his team through a minefield of sensitive information, much of which he is all too aware, as a father himself, would be horrifying to the victim's parents. But he has to follow the evidence, wherever it may lead.