‘It’s to be hoped so. I was relieved when we found Hayley, and her parents were ecstatic. If it is the same crew, it’s encouraging that they let her go, as with the boy in the Liverpool case. I’m only hoping you can catch them before they tear someone else’s family apart.’

‘You did say that the children never actually saw the kidnappers’ faces in both cases, but I wonder if the outcome would have been different if they had seen them. How’s the little girl doing now?’ Alex asked.

‘She’s traumatised and wouldn’t speak to anyone at first, not even her parents. She got over that in the first couple of days and one of our female officers spent time with the family and eventually gained the girl’s trust. Hayley opened up, telling her about the place she was held but there was nothing to give us any solid leads to go on. Having not seen the kidnappers’ faces, we got very little from her. Arrangements were made for Hayley to have counselling which should help in the longer term. But I’m interested in your theory of the kidnappers being known to the family. Have you got anywhere with that yet?’

‘Sadly no, but looking into it now is better than leaving it until the boy’s home and the kidnappers disappear off the radar.’

Dave nodded thoughtfully. ‘When I get back to Leeds, I’ll be going to interview Hayley’s family again. I’m wondering now if perhaps I’m guilty of not asking the right questions.’

The two shook hands and reiterated the need to keep each other informed before going home to their respective families. Both men would snatch a few hours’ sleep before returning to the cases which kept them wholly occupied.

32

DAY 5

When Martha woke, she heard her mother already busy in the kitchen. Dragging herself from the warmth of her bed, she pulled on some clothes. Richard appeared from the bathroom and together they went downstairs to join Elaine. Richard’s expression was one of suppressed anger; his feelings for Elaine were cool at the best of times but Martha couldn’t be bothered to placate either of them and sat down to allow her mother to wait on her.

‘I’m not hungry,’ Richard snapped.

‘It’s not a good idea to neglect eating.’ Elaine pressed her mouth into a tight line and her nostrils flared. ‘You need to be on top of your game to get through this.’

Richard didn’t reply and helping himself to a cup of coffee he left the two women in the kitchen.

Elaine poured coffee for her daughter. ‘If you were struggling to raise the money, Martha, why didn’t you come to me?’