Close to Home (DI Adam Fawley #1)(18)
Barry Mason looks at me, openly hostile. ‘I watch TV. I know what that means. You think we did it but you don’t have enough evidence to get a warrant. Do you.’
I refuse to rise to the bait. ‘A search of that kind might provide invaluable – ’
But he’s already shaking his head. ‘No way – absolutely no bloody way. I’m not having you lot fitting me up for something I didn’t do.’
‘We don’t fit people up, Mr Mason.’
He snorts, ‘Yeah, right.’
We stare at one another. Impasse.
‘I’ve arranged for an appropriate adult to attend,’ I say eventually. ‘They should be here in the next ten minutes.’
‘Oh, fuck off,’ snaps Barry. ‘If I need someone to hold my hand I’ll call my bloody lawyer.’
‘Not for you,’ I say evenly. ‘For your son. We need to interview Leo as well, and he’ll need someone present to protect his interests. And I’m afraid that can’t be either of you.’
As I show Barry through the door and reach to close it I hear the sound of retching and turn to see Leo being violently sick against the wall. Maureen is on her feet at once, reaching for the box of tissues, putting her arm round his shoulders, telling him it’s OK. The last thing I see before I close the door is Sharon Mason reaching into her bag for a wet wipe and bending to clean some infinitesimal spatter from her shoes.
*
BBC Midlands Today
Thursday 21 July 2016 | Last updated at 10:09
Daisy Mason: Police extend search to Port Meadow
Oxford police are using a helicopter to help in the search for 8-year-old Daisy Mason, who was last seen on Tuesday night. The ancient Port Meadow site to the west of the city extends for over 120 hectares and has never been cultivated. As Detective Inspector Adam Fawley told the BBC, ‘It’s a huge open expanse, with heavily wooded areas around the boundaries. Using a helicopter to support our teams on the ground will help us carry out the search far more quickly and efficiently.’ DI Fawley refused to confirm whether the helicopter is fitted with an infra-red camera, but stressed that the police are still treating the investigation as a missing person inquiry.
Owners of the allotments adjoining Port Meadow have also been asked to check their sheds and outbuildings.
If you have information about Daisy contact Thames Valley CID incident room on 01865 0966552.
*
10.41
Amy Carey @JustAGirlWhoCant
I live north of Port Meadow – I can see the helicopter looking for Daisy Mason. Fingers crossed they find her soon #FindDaisy
10.43
Danny Chadwick @ChadwickDanielPJ
This gets weirder the longer it goes on – are the police suggesting an 8YO could have got across the railway line in the dark? #DaisyMason
10.44
Amy Carey @JustAGirlWhoCant
@ChadwickDanielPJ I thought it odd too – you can’t even get on to Port Meadow from here any more. You have to go all the way round by Walton Well
10.46
Samantha Weston @MissusScatterbox
I can’t see this ending happily. RIP poor little angel x #DaisyMason
10.47
Amy Carey @JustAGirlWhoCant
There are literally 100s of people out helping with the search #FindDaisy
10.52
Scott Sullivan @SnapHappyWarrior
#DaisyMason Like I said – it’ll be the parents. Bet the father was abusing her – he looks the type
10.53
Jenny T @56565656Jennifer
@SnapHappyWarrior That’s a disgusting thing to say. Trolls like you make me sick #FindDaisy
10.54
Scott Sullivan @SnapHappyWarrior
@56565656Jennifer How many times does this have to happen before idiots like you see whats in front of their faces? #DaisyMason
10.54
Jenny T @56565656Jennifer
@SnapHappyWarrior Look at that picture of Daisy taken 3 days before she went missing. That’s not the picture of an abused child #Happy
10.55
Kathy Baines @FulloftheWarmSouth
#DaisyMason I don’t understand this at all. All I know is its really heartbreaking. So so sad
10.56
Jimmie Chews @RedsUnderTheShed
I heard chance of finding a kid dead is 80% if it goes over 24 hrs. This #DaisyMason thing was always going to end in Tragedy
10.56
J the Kid @Johnnycomelately
It’s a sad reflection on our modern media world that everyone always suspects the parents. As if your child going missing wasn’t bad enough
10.59
Kathy Baines @FulloftheWarmSouth
@Johnnycomelately I agree – I wish people wouldn’t sensationalize everything. It’s so horrible already #DaisyMason
10.59
JJ @JampotJamboree88
I don’t believe any of it it doesn’t add up v suspiscious #DaisyMason