Martha sighed. She didn’t wish to have this conversation. ‘I know your capital is tied up to provide an income, and the amount you’d have been able to offer would barely help. It’s academic now, Mum, as we have the money. Can we not talk about it?’

‘Is Suni coming today?’

‘No, she’s on a rest day but DI Radford said another officer could be here if we wanted one.’

‘You didn’t say yes, did you?’

‘No, Mum. Suni’s been great for some things but it’s actually quite tiring having someone in your home all the time. I said we’d manage as you’re here now so we’ll be fine.’ Martha drank her coffee and nibbled on a piece of toast; she wasn’t hungry either but her mother was right, she needed all the strength she could get.

At 8am the doorbell rang and Richard rushed to answer it. They’d grown accustomed to the odd hours the police worked and Martha correctly assumed it would be either DI Radford or DS Foster. It was the latter of the two.

‘I don’t suppose you’ve been approached by the kidnappers yet?’ Foster asked.

Richard shook his head.

Foster asked to speak to him and Martha together and with another flare of her nostrils, Elaine returned to her bedroom.

‘We’ve arranged another press conference for today at 1pm and would like you both to attend.’

Martha gasped. ‘But what will we be expected to say?’

‘It will mainly be a case of answering questions. The best thing you can do is answer as honestly and as briefly as possible. But I’m afraid journalists can ask some pretty stupid questions, like “How are you feeling?” and “How much do you want your son back?”. DI Radford or I will cut in if they ask anything too difficult or something about the investigation that we don’t want to reveal. Don’t feel pressured into saying what you think they want to hear, but if they ask if you have a message for anyone who might be holding Danny, say you’d like them to return your son.’

‘How long will the press conference last?’ Richard asked.

‘Only a few minutes – five or six at the most – but we’ll cut it short if we feel it’s necessary.’

Martha thought five minutes could be an awfully long time in a situation like theirs. She frowned. ‘I don’t know if I can do this without breaking down.’

‘If you do, don’t worry – it will gain public sympathy and hopefully prompt a positive response. Don’t be afraid to let your emotions show. We want the public on side with this, which is why we’re doing it.’

‘Do you think this sort of approach actually helps or does it just muddy the waters so to speak?’ Richard asked.