Close to Home (DI Adam Fawley #1)(79)
AF: Take all the time you need. Interview terminated at 13.14.
*
At the level crossing, the rain thickens suddenly from drizzle to downpour. Everett stops her car just outside the gate and leans over to the back seat for her waterproof. Even though the sky to the north is still a brilliant blue, the clouds are as dark as November overhead, and the wind is flaying the summer trees. It looks like the search teams have just started: one group is going through the stack of old wheelbarrows and garden junk, and the others are doing a fingertip search of the strip leading from the gate to the site of the waste heap. They definitely got the short straw: the rain is already turning the ground to orangey sludge.
She gets out and turns her collar up against the wet. A train is coming towards them from Oxford station, the passengers peering out of the misted windows at the police cars, the white-suited forensics team, the whole goddam circus. A teenager in one of the carriages is taking photos on his phone. Everett just hopes Fawley remembered to brief the press office.
There’s a shout then, above the din of the train. By the time Everett draws level a forensics officer is gently dislodging something from under the rusted wheels of one of the wheelbarrows. It’s so filthy it’s hard to tell what it is, but then he opens it out and they can all see. Two bedraggled sleeves, shiny buttons, some sort of bobble effect round the neck.
‘That’s a girl’s cardigan,’ says Everett slowly. ‘Daisy had one of those. It was round her shoulders that day, on the CCTV. The last time anyone saw her.’
*
BBC Midlands Today
Monday 25 July 2016 | Last updated at 15:28
BREAKING NEWS: Father arrested in Daisy Mason disappearance
A statement from Thames Valley CID has just confirmed that Barry Mason has been arrested in connection with his daughter’s disappearance. Daisy, 8, was last seen a week ago, and in the last few days there has been growing speculation that a member of her family may have been involved. Sources close to the investigation say that Mason, involved. Sources close to the investigation say that Mason, 46, will be charged with murder, and another unconnected offence, believed to be of a sexual nature. A further statement will be issued tomorrow morning, when details will be given of the charges. It is not clear as yet whether Daisy’s body has been found.
The Mason family are thought to be in hiding after an arson attack on their home last week. This has been connected with the hate campaign being waged against them on social media.
*
15.46
Richard Robertson @DrahcirNostrebor
So it was the father after all – must have been abusing her, poor little cow #DaisyMason
15.56
Anne Merrivale @Annie_Merrivale_
This whole #DaisyMason thing is just so horrible. I hope they lock up her father and throw away the key #Justice4Daisy
15.57
Caroline Tollis @ForWhomtheTollis
@Annie_Merrivale_ Have the police said if they’ve found a body? I can’t find anything online #DaisyMason
15.59
Anne Merrivale @Annie_Merrivale_
@ForWhomtheTollis I’ve not seen anything either. OH says they don’t necessarily need a body if they can meet the test for ‘presumption of death’
16.05
Caroline Tollis @ForWhomtheTollis
@Annie_Merrivale_ They must have some sort of evidence then. Something conclusive the father won’t be able to challenge #DaisyMason
16.06
Anne Merrivale @Annie_Merrivale_
@ForWhomtheTollis. I still keep wondering if someone cd have offered her a lift home? Someone she knew and only found out later she couldn’t trust?
16.07
Caroline Tollis @ForWhomtheTollis
@Annie_Merrivale_ But it’d have to have been someone Daisy would have gone away with and there just isn’t anyone like that in the frame . . .
16.08
Caroline Tollis @ForWhomtheTollis
. . . Not that I’ve heard about anyway and if the police have proof against the father then that can’t be what happened, can it @Annie_Merrivale_
16.09
Anne Merrivale @Annie_Merrivale_
@ForWhomtheTollis. I guess not. And it’s not as if someone could have planted evidence or framed him. There’s no one with a motive
16.11
Garry G @SwordsandSandals
#DaisyMason Told U so. It was the father. Bloody pedo
16.13
Scott Sullivan @SnapHappyWarrior
I heard a rumour the father’s up for possessing kiddie porn. Hardcore stuff. God knows what he did to that kid #DaisyMason
16.17
Angela Betterton @AngelaGBetterton
Everyone at Daisy’s school is devastated by the news – she was so loved, such a happy child. Memorial at the start of next term #DaisyMason
16.17
Elspeth Morgan @ElspethMorgan959
I so hope someone’s looking after Leo in all this – who knows, he may have been abused too #DaisyMason