Inspector Jim Emery had waited two days before ordering the search of Tetney Hall. At first, in these days of budgetary restraints, he been reluctant to unnecessarily expend the manpower and subsequent costs on what might be a futile waste of money, hoping that Jack Hobson would turn up of his own volition, possibly saying that he had been unwell or offer some other excuse for his absence.
It would not be the first time that he had been absent without giving notice; his increasing unreliability had become a concern and Emery had determined that this time Hobson would face a disciplinary hearing. However, when he arrived at the Hall, he began to wonder if he had been mistaken in not ordering an immediate search. A missing police officer was a serious matter, but there was nothing to be don
