No, it was the implication of Dale’s emotional words and demeanour that bothered Kesey most. She’d always thought the chances of Dale being the perpetrator she was looking for were slender, and now she was sure of it. If Dale was lying, he was a world-class actor.

This wasn’t a case of parental abduction following family breakdown. It was more than that, much more. If Lottie was still alive, she was in terrible danger.

They’d examine every inch of Dale’s estate car for forensic evidence. And they’d look for his fingerprints on the window frame too. They’d follow procedure as all good detectives did. But they wouldn’t find anything implicating Dale in the crime.

They were looking for someone else entirely, a hunter who preyed on the innocent.

8

Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Halliday pushed up the sleeve of his bespoke, charcoal-grey pinstripe jacket, and looked at his high-end Swiss watch, making it obvious, before turning his attention to Kesey, as she sat and waited in his excessively large office. ‘Right, what can I do for you, Laura? Please try to be as concise as possible. I’m rather pushed for time.’

Kesey silently acknowledged that almost everything about the man’s outward behaviour and bearing annoyed her immensely. She’d disliked him since their first meeting. ‘I’m sorry, sir, this is far too important to be rushed.’

Halliday studied his watch for a second time as if willing their meeting to end. He sighed before stifling a yawn. ‘It might be an idea to let me be the judge of that. You do rather ramble on at times. Try to outline the key points as succinctly as you possibly can. Other matters are demanding my attention. We can always reschedule if necessary. I can’t spend all my time talking to you.’

Kesey’s tone hardened as she held his gaze. ‘We’ve got a child abduction case. A five-year-old girl taken from her home in the early hours of this morning. She’s the daughter of a local solicitor, Megan Weller. She’s with Rundle and Evans in Curzon Street.’

All of a sudden Halliday appeared more interested, but only slightly. ‘Are we talking about a family-perpetrated abduction? Most are in my experience. I dealt with several while with the Met.’

Kesey shook her head, asking herself why he always felt the need to mention his time in London. And all those academic certificates on his office wall. Small dick syndrome. ‘I thought it was likely initially, but early enquiries suggest otherwise.’

He appeared far from persuaded. ‘And you say that why exactly?’

‘The girl lives with her mother. There have been recent custody issues involving the father; there’s an injunction; and he seemed the obvious suspect, but he was in our custody for most of the night on a drink-drive charge. If he took his daughter, she was only in his car for a matter of minutes. I can’t see that happening. The timeline doesn’t fit. We’re looking for somebody else.’

Halliday looked at Kesey as if she’d stunk out the room. ‘Stranger abductions are extremely rare, particularly in this part of the world and from private property. Are you sure of your facts?’