Close to Home (DI Adam Fawley #1)(41)
*
In the family room, Gislingham is as happy as a pig in shit. Though to be fair, Leo appears to be enjoying himself too – when I push open the door they’re watching goals from Chelsea’s 2015 winning season on the DC’s iPhone.
‘Did you see that pass?’ says Gislingham excitedly as tinny cheering comes from the mobile. ‘Fàbregas was brilliant in that game.’
He looks up and sees me. ‘Oh, sorry, didn’t realize you were there, boss.’
‘How are you, Leo?’ I say, pulling out a chair and sitting down. ‘DC Gislingham been keeping you entertained?’
Leo blushes and looks down. Then he nods.
‘You want to show me – that goal you were both just looking at?’
Leo comes over and stands next to me. It takes him a moment or two to reset the video, but then we go through the goal again. The pass, the back heel, the pass.
‘Do you remember,’ I say casually, ‘when you were here last time, and you told me what happened the day Daisy disappeared?’
He nods, his thumbs speeding over the touchscreen. He clearly has a knack for these things – it took me weeks to master mine. It was Jake who set it up for me in the end. Smiling and giving me that why-are-parents-so-useless look. I didn’t mind being useless with phones; I just wish I hadn’t been so useless in the ways that really mattered.
I take a deep breath. ‘You said that you got home and went up to your room. Did you see your dad that afternoon?’
He slides a glance at me. ‘No. He came in later.’
‘And if he’d come in before that, you’d have known? You’d definitely have heard if someone came in the house?’
A shrug.
‘Did you hear your mum go out?’
He shakes his head. ‘I had my headphones on.’
‘But you’re sure Daisy was in her bedroom?’
It’s hot in here and he pushes up his sleeves, almost without thinking. ‘The music was on.’
‘So just to be sure I’m clear, you were in your own room all the time till the party, with your headphones on. And you didn’t hear your mum go out, or anyone come in, or any other loud noises?’
‘I was annoyed with Daisy. She ran away.’
‘Yes, I remember. OK, Leo, I’ll leave you to talk some more with DC Gislingham. Your mum is helping us with some things, so it may be a while before she can come and get you. Are you all right staying here a bit longer?’
But I’m not sure he even hears me. He’s on to the next goal.
Gislingham follows me out and pulls the door to.
‘Boss,’ he says, keeping his voice low, ‘I’ve been watching him for half an hour now and I have to tell you, I’m not sure that kid’s all there. I think he might be, you know, autistic or something.’
‘I don’t think it’s that,’ I say slowly. ‘But I agree with you. From what I just saw, something’s very wrong.’
*
At Bishop Christopher’s the corridors ring with the emptiness of the end of term. One or two teachers are still on-site, tidying and taking posters down ready for a new start in September, but otherwise the building is eerily empty. In the caretaker’s office at the back, Andrew Baxter has set up a rackety fan, and is sitting in front of the computer screen still scrolling through the footage from the school gate. His shirt is sticking to the back of the chair and he’s already had two texts from his wife asking when he’s going to be home. But he keeps telling himself, just one more file, just one more file. And sometimes, that sort of diligence is more than its own reward. He sits forward suddenly. Replays. Replays again. Then gets out his mobile and makes a call.
‘Boss? I’m at the school. I think you should see this. I think the goalposts may just have moved. Again.’
*
14.06
Scott Sullivan @SnapHappyWarrior
Just saw the news and want to say to all the prats out there – you were wrong, even the fuckwit police suspect the parents now #DaisyMason
14.08
Annabel White @TherealAnnabelWyte
Add a to your avatar to show your support and fight back against the trolls #DaisyChain #FindDaisy
14.09
Amanda May @BuskinforBritain
I can’t believe it – someone just said that #DaisyMason’s father had been grooming young girls on a website? Is that true? #disgusted
14.10
MtN @Nuckleduster1989
Those #Mason shits deserve to rot in jail – I reckon they were in it together – he was abusing the kid + the mother covered it up #sick
14.11
MickyF @TheGameBlader666
@Nuckleduster1989 I hope they get cancer. I hope they die a vile & horrible death #Masons
14.11
Anon Anon @Rottweiller_1982
@Nuckleduster1989 @TheGameBlader666 Jail’s too good for them – they should burn in hell for what they did #DaisyMason #guilty
14.14
MickyF @TheGameBlader666
@Rottweiller_1982 @Nuckleduster1989 Perhaps someone should help them on their way. Police r so shit theyll never prove nothing