Megan wiped away a tear with the same tissue with which she’d dried her face. ‘You will find her, won’t you? Lottie is going to be okay, isn’t she? I couldn’t bear to lose her. She’s got her whole life ahead of her. She’s only… she’s only five years old.’

Kesey poised her pen above the statement form. ‘Most missing children are found safe and sound.’

‘Yes, but not all of them.’

Kesey shook her head slowly, first one way and then the other. ‘No, not all of them, but I’m going to do all I can to ensure that your daughter isn’t one of those unfortunate children.’

‘You’ve got to find her, Inspector. I’m begging you. Please find my little girl.’

7

Kesey sat alongside DS Lewis, with Dale flopped in a chair on the opposite side of the interview room table.

Dale was nursing a hangover. He appeared distracted, focused on his physical suffering, only mildly concerned by the potential legal implications of his actions, as he raised a hand to his face, shielding veined and bloodshot eyes from the electric glare of the fluorescent light above his head.

Kesey glanced towards her older but less senior colleague, keen to expedite matters. A child was missing and very likely in peril. ‘Switch the tape on, Ray. The quicker we get this done, the happier I’ll be.’

Kesey stated the time, date and location, rushing her words, and then continued, her tone conveying her concern. ‘My name is Detective Inspector Laura Kesey. Also present is Detective Sergeant Raymond Lewis, and the suspect Mr Dale Weller. I need to remind you, Mr Weller, that you are still subject to caution. Anything you say could be used in evidence in any subsequent court proceedings. Do you understand what I’m telling you?’

Dale nodded once, looking away as if uninterested, his eyes narrowed to slits as he massaged his temples with the tips of his fingers.

‘For the tape, please, Mr Weller, we need to hear you say it.’

Dale met her eyes before lowering his gaze. ‘Yeah, I understand. Happy now? Can we get this shit over with? I need to get my head down.’

Kesey spoke again the moment he finished his sentence. ‘And can you confirm that you have declined the offer of legal representation?’

Dale emitted a long, deep audible breath. ‘I was pissed; I acted like an idiot. You’ve got all the evidence you need. There’s no point in my trying to deny any of it. There’s fuck all a solicitor can do for me now. Stop pissing about. Interview me, charge me, and let me get out of here. I could do with a pint to take the edge off.’

‘So, you don’t want a lawyer?’

‘No, I don’t want a fucking lawyer. Is that clear enough for you?’

Kesey tilted her head at a slight angle, holding his gaze right up to the time it was no longer comfortable. ‘As long as you’re sure?’

‘Yeah, yeah, I’m sure. Just get on with it.’