Dead weight

the long version

High-flying Member of Parliament Stephen Lorrimer and his wife Julia are the parents of a bright five-year-old son, Michael, who has severe hearing and speech impediments. Michael is devoted to his caregiver Justine, and when she disappears, he is inconsolable. Julia is quick to report to DCI Neil Paget the girl's failure to return after leaving the house for Sunday service at the local church where she worshipped regularly. But no witnesses come forward and with no clues as to why Justine disappeared or where she might have gone, the investigation leads nowhere. Then a chance discovery throws a shocking new light on the case.