‘We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t think it worthwhile. Keeping Danny’s image and name in the public eye might prompt someone who may have seen him or thinks a neighbour is holding him. It’s a long shot but certainly worth a try.’

‘So where do we have to go?’ Martha was willing to give anything a try if the police thought it would help.

‘It’ll be at the police station but I’ll come and pick you up at noon so you don’t have to worry about getting there. Please don’t say anything about the kidnappers or the demand for a ransom. We want the public to be vigilant with this – if they think it’s a kidnapping, they’ll assume Danny’s being held somewhere far away when in reality it might be that their neighbour who was acting suspiciously is holding him next door.’

DS Foster left and for the rest of the morning there were only the three of them in the house. Martha was aware of the tension between Richard and her mother but did nothing about it, she had other things to worry about. They were grown adults and could sort it out for themselves.

Richard left the house for an hour to go to the bank and collect the money from the loan company. Martha noticed his anxiety and assumed it was the thought of the press conference.

When he returned and they were waiting for DS Foster to arrive to drive them to the police station, Richard asked to talk to Martha, alone. ‘If you like, I’ll do all the talking,’ he said.

Studying her husband’s face, Martha asked, ‘Is that to spare me the ordeal, or don’t you trust me to be coherent?’ She paused but Richard had no answer. ‘I think we’ll just have to see who the question is directed to.’ Martha turned and left the room.

DS Foster arrived in good time, accompanied by a uniformed constable and explained that the constable would remain with Elaine in case the kidnappers rang.

Martha hadn’t bothered to change out of her jeans and T-shirt and wore no make-up. Foster smiled at her as he led them to the car.

When they arrived at the station DI Radford was waiting and briefly explained how the event would proceed, repeating much of what Graham had told them and then it was time to face the press.

Martha could feel a knot of anxiety in her stomach; she hadn’t been outside the house since that first night when she’d wildly run out into the streets looking for Danny. Madness had taken over then but now all she felt was physically sick. She was scared of the conference and of what might happen to Danny.