Kesey was struck by the intensity of her sergeant’s statement. She asked herself if he’d ever encountered such a man in his youth. Was he a survivor? ‘I wasn’t expecting you to say anything different, but we had to check it out. We’ve had the DNA results through. They’re not a match, but then you’d already guessed that. I’d have been amazed if they were.’

Lewis nodded his agreement. ‘I’ve had Megan on the phone.’

‘Oh, really, what did she want?’

‘Just a catch-up. I wish I could have told her something more positive. And she’s had Heath at the house. He did the good neighbour routine. He was very supportive, apparently.’

‘There you go, I told you he’s a decent bloke.’

Lewis grinned. ‘The Pope will be making him a saint at this rate.’

‘You still don’t look convinced.’

‘I don’t like the man. It’s as simple as that.’

‘Fancy a coffee?’

He shook his head. ‘No, Ben picked up that ex-music teacher we’re looking at. The nonce who’s been giving private piano lessons since his sacking. I want to sit in on the interview.’

‘I had an expert look at the photographic paper.’

Lewis raised an eyebrow. ‘Anything that helps us?’

‘It’s the sort of stuff that was commonly available years back before digital took hold. There’s no way of identifying where or when it was bought.’

‘Another dead end. It doesn’t get any better.’

‘It’s ten days, Ray, ten days today. That’s ten days too long.’

His expression darkened. ‘Yeah, I know, it’s not good. I’m beginning to think we’re not going to find Lottie alive. I hope I’m wrong, but we’re not getting anywhere. It’s one blind alley after another.’

‘We’ve got to keep our heads up for the troops. We don’t want their enthusiasm flagging. We can’t show even the slightest sign of losing hope. We’re going to find her. It’s just a matter of when and if she’s alive when we do.’

Lewis grimaced. ‘You’ve seen the photos. She’s in the hands of a total psycho. Maybe she’d be better off dead. Can you imagine what that poor kid’s going through?’

Kesey swallowed hard. ‘I’m trying not to think about it. We’ve got to focus on the job, follow the evidence, or at least the little evidence we’ve got. If we keep plugging away, we’ll get a break. Lottie’s out there somewhere, and so’s the bastard who took her.’

38

Heath was wearing one of his mother’s black stockings, pulled down tightly over his head, as he crept along the path at the back of the Wellers’ home in the early hours of the morning. He glanced in every direction, satisfying himself that no-one was watching, before scrambling over the wall and lowering himself to the grassy ground. He had no intention of entering the house, but he wanted Megan to know he could any time he wanted to. That, he assured himself, would increase her fear, introducing a crushing panic that wouldn’t let go.