Kesey jumped up, fully intending to interrupt Megan’s impassioned plea. But the detective returned to her seat when Megan chose to ignore her.

Megan paused for the briefest of moments and then continued, ‘I’ll gladly swap places with my daughter if given the opportunity. I’ll get down on my knees if you want me to. I’ll beg if it pleases you. Contact me. My number is readily available. Just say the word. All I ask is that you free my lovely girl. If she’s still alive…’ Megan allowed the table to support her weight as her legs threatened to buckle under her. ‘If…’ Megan blew out a series of short breaths. ‘If you haven’t killed my little girl, if she’s still alive, please release her, leave her somewhere safe. I’m begging you to let her go.’

16

Kesey approached Lewis as the various media professionals made their way towards the exit, allowing Megan and Dale a brief interlude, time to talk, time to compose themselves, before leaving to face the remains of the day. Kesey looked into her sergeant’s tired eyes and smiled, more in relief that the press conference was over than any sense of achievement. She wished she’d had more to say, something positive to report. Something she could back up with action as opposed to merely words.

‘Do you know, I hate dealing with the frigging media. It doesn’t get any easier however many times I do it. I think I’m more introvert than extrovert. It’s just not my style.’

‘The chief super was conspicuous by his absence.’

Kesey laughed humourlessly. ‘Yeah, I’m not sorry, to be honest. The investigation isn’t actually covering us in glory. I might be back directing traffic at this rate. And he’d love it too. I bet he’d be creaming his pants.’

Lewis grinned. ‘What, don’t tell me the two of you aren’t getting on again? I thought you’d have kissed and made up long before now.’

‘Oh, yeah, like that’s ever going to happen. We’re chalk and cheese, oil and water. The twat’s always banging on about his time in the smoke, the Met this, and the Met that. The man’s a misogynist, he resents women in positions of responsibility. If he pissed off back to London, I’d be a very happy girl.’

Lewis adopted a more serious persona, his smile becoming a frown. ‘How do you think the conference went? Any thoughts?’

Kesey shrugged her shoulders. ‘As well as can be expected, I guess. Someone knows something. They always do. Let’s hope they see one report or another and ring in. We’ve got sod all else. We need a break.’

Lewis touched her arm. ‘It’s going to be all right, boss. We’re bound to get something.’

Kesey knew he was trying to stay positive, attempting to boost her confidence, and she decided not to comment. He was well-intentioned, and that’s what mattered. ‘There’s going to be a report on the Welsh news at about half six this evening. A lot of people are going to see it. Let’s meet up in the canteen in the morning to see what we’ve got. I’ve got a briefing with Halliday at nine, lucky me, so let’s say ten o’clock sharp. We’re going to get calls, most of them next to useless if past experience is anything to go by. But hopefully, there will be something significant.’