The room they were ushered into was crammed full of journalists, lighting and cameras. It seemed surreal and Martha drifted along to a seat behind a table where Alex Radford steered her. Richard sat beside her and took her hand.

The questions started immediately – some were intrusive, some sympathetic, and others rather stupid, as Graham had warned them. Martha did leave most of the talking to Richard as she felt spaced out, as if this wasn’t real and she would wake up soon to find it had all been a nightmare.

The last question, however, was directed at her as a ruddy-faced, rather rotund journalist asked, ‘Mrs Stone, do you think Danny is still alive?’

33

DAY 5

While the Stones were attending the press conference, Pete Turner’s anger increased by the minute. He’d tried several times to ring Stone on the burner phone but the stupid man had switched it off. The events of the previous day still rankled – Pete had expected this job to be over and done with and he was furious when the money was short. To add to his frustrations, Neil was getting antsy and beginning to nag. Pete wished he’d never brought the man in on this job – he didn’t appreciate the opportunity of easy money and was starting to question Pete’s judgement.

‘I told you we shouldn’t have given him more time,’ Neil huffed after another unanswered call.

Pete stepped closer to his partner, deliberately using his height and greater bulk to intimidate the man. ‘Shut it, Neil! It was a good call – if we’d settled for what Stone brought, it would hardly be worth the effort we’ve put into this. Maybe you’re happy to settle for such a paltry sum but I’m not and I’m in charge!’ He glared at Neil. Pete hated being challenged and his accomplice was silenced by the tone of his voice, allowing him to consider their other dilemma – what to do with the kid now he’d seen their faces.

They were on the way back to the farmhouse and had stopped the van to make the call to Stone. Neil lit a cigarette and kept any more thoughts to himself as Pete walked away from the van to try Stone again and ponder his options.

Pete was used to looking out for himself, making his own decisions. He’d been passed from one foster home to another throughout his childhood without ever experiencing a sense of belonging. As a teenager, he was known to have a very short fuse which was possibly why he never stayed very long with any of the foster parents he’d lived with. ‘He has anger issues’ was a phrase often used by the adults who dictated his fate.