Close to Home (DI Adam Fawley #1)(11)
But he’s already put the phone down. Anna is staring at me, an odd look on her face. If she’s that exercised by swearing she’s not going to last long here.
‘I’ve been looking at the photos again,’ she begins. ‘The ones at the party.’
‘Sorry, I have to go. I’m already late.’
‘No, wait – it’ll only take a minute.’
She bends again to the PC and opens up the file of images from the shared server. She selects three of the pictures, then opens a still of Daisy from the video and lines it up carefully next to the others.
‘It took me a while to spot it, but once you do, it’s really obvious.’
Obvious to her, perhaps, but not to me. She’s looking at me expectantly but I just shrug.
She picks up a pen and points. ‘These three on the right are the only ones of the party that have Daisy in them. At least all we have so far. But none of them are very clear – she’s either got her back to us or she’s partially hidden behind someone else. But there’s one thing we definitely can see.’
‘Which is?’
She points at the video still from three days before. ‘Look at how long the dress is here – definitely well above her knee. And then look at the other three pictures.’
And now I see. I see very clearly. The girl wearing the dress at the party must be at least two or three inches shorter than Daisy Mason. It’s not Daisy at all.
It’s another child.
*
15.18
Oxford’s News @OxfordNewsOnline
Canal Manor #abduction update – sources say police have found bloodstained garments. Anyone with info shd contact @ThamesValleyPolice #FindDaisy
15.22
Elspeth Morgan @ElspethMorgan959
That poor family. I can’t imagine what they’re going through #FindDaisy
15.45
BBC Midlands @BBCMidlandsBreaking
#MidlandsToday at six will have the latest on the disappearance of #DaisyMason. @ThamesValleyPolice earlier released a photo of her
15.46
William Kidd @ThatBillytheKidd
If you know where Daisy Mason is pls call the police #FindDaisy #DaisyMason
15.56
Anne Merrivale @Annie_Merrivale_
Am I the only one who thinks there’s something odd about this #DaisyMason thing? How can a child disappear from her own garden + nobody see?
15.05
Caroline Tollis @ForWhomtheTollis
@Annie_Merrivale_ I agree – I said to my OH the moment we heard – there’s more to that than meets the eye #DaisyMason
15.07
Danny Chadwick @ChadwickDanielPJ
What parents let their kid stay up 2 gone midnight? They obvs weren’t keeping proper tabs on her – only got themselves to blame #DaisyMason
16.09
Angus Cordery @AngusNCorderyEsq
@Annie_Merrivale_ @ForWhomtheTollis @ChadwickDanielPJ You mark my words – it’ll be one of the parents. Always is #DaisyMason
16.10
Anne Merrivale @Annie_Merrivale_
@AngusNCorderyEsq It is odd that neither of them have appeared in public yet @ForWhomtheTollis @ChadwickDanielPJ #DaisyMason
16.13
Elsie Barton @ElsieBarton_1933
@AngusNCorderyEsq @Annie_Merrivale_ @ForWhomtheTollis @ChadwickDanielPJ God I’d hate to have your suspicious minds #FindDaisy
16.26
Anne Merrivale @Annie_Merrivale_
@ElsieBarton_1933 You have to admit the whole thing sounds very odd #DaisyMason
16.29
Elsie Barton @ElsieBarton_1933
@Annie_Merrivale_ All I know is a little girl’s missing and we should focus on finding her not making accusations about her parents #FindDaisy
16.31
Angela Betterton @AngelaGBetterton
@AngusNCorderyEsq @ChadwickDanielPJ @Annie_ Merrivale_ @ForWhomtheTollis You don’t know what you’re talking about – you don’t even know the family #FindDaisy
16.33
Danny Chadwick @ChadwickDanielPJ
@AngelaGBetterton I know I’d keep a bloody sight better watch on my own kid. And what makes you such an expert anyway? #DaisyMason
16.35
Angela Betterton @AngelaGBetterton
@AngusNCorderyEsq I was at the party – both parents were there all night – there’s no way either of them was involved #FindDaisy
16.36
Caroline Tollis @ForWhomtheTollis
@AngelaGBetterton Is there any news on the bloodstained tights – have the police confirmed that? #DaisyMason
16.37
Anne Merrivale @Annie_Merrivale_
@ForWhomtheTollis There was nothing on the news. But it proves someone harmed her that night, doesn’t it? #DaisyMason
16.39
Caroline Tollis @ForWhomtheTollis