‘Do you think he was watching? Do you think he knew the house was empty? Maybe he was waiting for you to take the poor woman away.’

‘Yeah, it was a set-up all right. I think that’s exactly what happened.’

‘That must have taken some nerve.’

‘We’ve got the bastard’s fingerprints, we’ve got his DNA, and we know he’s either living locally or knows the area well. He’s operating within what Grav used to call a zone of comfort. We know all that, but we still haven’t got the slightest clue who he is. And he’s gaining confidence now, more full of himself. He’s running rings around us, and he knows it. I think it’s a game to him. He’s enjoying every frigging moment.’

Janet made a face. ‘You keep saying “he”. Are you certain it’s a man? You’ve always said you never make assumptions. Isn’t that what you’re doing?’

‘The perverted bastard pissed all over the little girl’s bed. He hasn’t only abducted her. He’s now taunting the mother, playing with her sanity like a cat with a mouse. There is no way we’re looking for a woman. This has got male scrote written all over it.’

Janet shuddered. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, I couldn’t do your job however much they paid me.’

‘It gets worse. You don’t know the half of it.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Do you really want to know? You can’t unhear this stuff once I’ve told you.’

‘I asked, didn’t I?’

‘Okay, if you’re sure. The psycho cut the little girl’s hair off. He laid it out on the lounge floor for Megan to find along with some of her clothes. Can you imagine how horrendous that must have been for the poor woman when she walked in? Firstly, I give her a hard time for no good reason at all, and then she finds that vile abomination after Ray drives her home. It’s like something out of horror film. Worse than a horror film, it’s real life.’

‘Oh my God, that’s ghastly. He must be some kind of psycho.’ Kesey sipped her coffee.

‘And as if that wasn’t bad enough, he’d left the poor woman a message scrawled on the lounge wall in what looks like bright red lipstick.’

‘What sort of message?’

‘Threats and implied threats. Trying to scare her, trying to hurt, and succeeding too. She’s traumatised, terrified, and fearing the worst. I’m beginning to think this is all about Megan. That this isn’t some random crime. Whoever took Lottie targeted her because she’s Megan’s daughter. It’s someone with a grudge. He wants her to suffer worse than she’s ever suffered before. And I think he’s capable of doing almost anything to make that happen.’

Janet looked across at Edward, as he slept, adjusting his position on the sofa, pressing himself against Kesey’s warm thigh. ‘Whoever it was, went back to the house in broad daylight. It’s a residential area. Someone must have seen something. Not everyone would have been in work. Not even you’re that unlucky.’