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Mike replays the footage from that night. A dark car, without a number plate, arrives around 11.30pm, it doesn't stop by the pumps but pulls up outside the station itself. A woman gets out, she looks quite distressed, she enters the petrol station and leaves a few minutes later. She gets back in the car and drives off.

OOC,Spot Hidden to notice any more

Jocelyn notices something as she watches the video.

OOC,Spot Hidden roll (60% skill) watching the CCTV footage: 0

As the dark car pulls up Jocelyn can see it is a Ford, probably a Focus. In the back a child's car seat is just visible, along with some dark hair.

After returning to the car Peale continues to look distressed but she drives away from the services. From the direction she is heading she is not going south on the A34 as she is heading for the roundabout that leads to the northbound A34 and east and westbound M4.

"That confirms it," Jocelyn says to DS Bates. "We'll need a copy of the CCTV footage sent on to the station, but we'd better hit the road and get to Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading fast. We can call ahead to Reading on the phone once we're moving. Let's get those directions and go."

'Thank you for your help' says Bates. She and Jocelyn get back into the car and drive out of the services onto the M4 eastbound back towards Reading.

Jocelyn takes out her mobile. "Do you know the number for the Reading police?" she asks. "I'll put it on speaker so we can both talk."

Jocelyn nods as she calls the number.

The control room answers and Bates introduces herself to the operator. 'What do you need Sergeant Bates?'

"Jocelyn Leigh here with DS Bates," says Jocelyn. "She's driving. We're en route to Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, but we're going to need constables there in advance of our arrival. We believe Lindsay Peale took Regina Balfour there. Unfortunately, that reporter Julie Thomas got this information out of the witness before we got to speak to her, so she must be on her way there ahead of us. If those constables could keep her busy and stop her from interfering, it would help tremendously." She gives a description of Julie Thomas and summarizes what happened when they spoke to the witness. "It's also highly likely that Ms. Thomas has a source in the police, or she wouldn't have known about the witness, so be careful with whom you share this."

"The most important thing is for them to find and sideline the reporter," says Jocelyn. "Once they've done that, if we haven't arrived yet, they might be able to start making enquiries." She glances over at DS Bates. "What do you think?"

With her eyes on the road, Bates looks focused. 'We need to stop the reporter entering the hospital. That's the main priority. I don't want anything tipping off Lindsay Peale. If they can neutralise Julie Thomas then I want them to get eyes on the main entrance and exits to the hospital. But Julie Thomas first.'

"Agreed," says Jocelyn, passing on the instructions. "Probably best not to start making enquiries until we arrive, then, even if you do contain the reporter before we get there."

Bates and Jocelyn wind through the busy streets of Reading, approaching the Royal Berkshire Hospital. It is that bizarre mishmash of Victorian, mid-20th Century, and modern architecture that often characterises old NHS hospitals.



Bates pulls up outside the new entrance on Craven Road, parking on double yellow lines. Concrete steps approach a redbrick and glass atrium. To the left of the main entrance Jocelyn can make out the GNS van which seems to be parked near the Accident & Emergency entrance.

'Where do you reckon we start?' asks Bates.

"Let's make sure Julie Thomas is contained first," says Jocelyn. "We also need the officers on the scene to cover all the exits to make sure Lindsay Peale does not escape if she's still there."

They trek round the side of the hospital, up some steps, to the Accident & Emergency Department. Parked haphazardly across spaces marked 'Restricted' is the GNS van. Julie Thomas is engaged in a heated conversation with a CSO and a uniformed police officer.

'This is an issue of massive public interest' says Thomas in a loud voice. 'We have every right to be here!'

'That's as maybe' says the police officer, 'But you can't park here, you're blocking access to A&E.'

While they argue, the cameraman circles around them filming the exchange.

"Do you think the officers can handle this?" Jocelyn asks DS Bates, "or shall we intervene?"

Bates curls her lip, 'I think it will be better if the press don't see us. It would only boost their story. Let's slip inside without them seeing. A&E or the main hospital?'

"Let's try A&E first," says Jocelyn. "That's where she would have taken her. We can talk to them and check the CCTV from that night."