Page 59

CHAPTER 59

MELANIE – D AY F IVE

Melanie checks her watch again. Five minutes to go. She’s nervous.

The communications lead Lisa has confirmed there’s a good turnout in the media room. Not as many as the first press conference but good numbers for an early start. The BBC and ITV have both sent cameras, which is key. Sky have said they’re on the way. And Sally and Matthew have just arrived, which is a huge relief. Coverage is always better when a parent’s involved.

When Melanie crept out of the house early this morning, she left a note on the breakfast table for George. A silly drawing with several lines of kisses. She was wearing trousers and a jumper then, aware that the office would be cool out of hours. Now she’s changed into the navy suit she brought in a smart carrier for the press conference.

It’s a little bit tight. She hasn’t worn it in a while. Melanie will have to sit up nice and straight to avoid unflattering side angles on television. It’s not vanity; she doesn’t want distractions. Snarky comments on socials when she needs everyone’s focus on the appeal, not her stupid outfit. For just a moment she wonders if she should quickly change back into the jumper. No. Too casual. No time.

‘You ready?’ Lisa knocks on the already open door, stepping straight into the room.

‘Sure. Is Sky here or should we wait?’

‘Just setting up. We’ll give them a minute.’

‘Anyone going live with this? Or is this for bulletins?’

‘Bulletins, I think. There’s another flood rescue. Two kids on a roof with their mother waiting for a helicopter so that’s getting all the live effort. But we should make the breakfast coverage. Important to stress how critical this breakthrough is, though.’

‘Yeah, yeah. I’m on it.’ Melanie glances at her notes. Day five. Absolutely critical. Any information you have about a black Volvo driver who looks like this man could be our breakthrough. Please look at this face closely. Please phone in.

‘Let’s go and fetch Sally. Check she has her script.’ Melanie’s suggested that Sally makes a personal plea for people to check that photofit. Phone in.

Melanie and Lisa move along the corridor to the side room and knock. Matthew opens the door, face drawn. ‘She’s ready.’

Sally steps forward, again clutching Amelie’s pink rabbit. Melanie can’t quite believe it’s just three days since they did this together before. There have been numerous press releases and radio and TV interviews since then. But these bigger press conferences are key.

Lisa leads the way and Sally sits on the podium between her and Melanie. They wait for the familiar wave of camera clicking to die down a little. Then Lisa sweeps her hand to confirm everyone’s ready. The TV cameras swing silently.

Melanie scans the faces and picks up a different vibe in the room. Some of the journalists are checking their phones. She’s worried they’ll be called away. Amelie’s disappearance is a big story still but it’s not the top story today. Two people have died in flooding overnight in their car. Others are still being rescued from rooftops. She makes a snap decision.

‘OK. So in a moment I’ll give you my full update on the inquiry. All the details. But first, I’d like you to hear from Amelie’s mother Sally why we’re here so early this morning. Why we need your help urgently to find this man. Our key suspect. Put the photofit up please.’ She glances to Lisa who frowns but signals for the graphic with the face and the incident room number to be put up full screen behind them. ‘We have digital copies for you all and it’s going straight up on all our feeds.’

Melanie notices journalists glancing around as they take this in. The cameras start zooming in on Sally but something still feels wrong with the energy in the room. One journalist stands up as if to interrupt but Melanie raises her hand. ‘Questions later, please. We need to hear from Amelie Hill’s mother.’ She then leans closer to Sally to whisper. ‘Do you mind, Sally? Going first. You have your paper?’ Sally looks thrown for a moment but then reaches into her pocket to take out her sheet of A4.

‘Amelie has been away from us for too long,’ she says slowly. ‘This is the fifth day without her. And we need her home. Today we need your help urgently.’ She stares towards the three TV cameras.

‘We need to find this man.’ Sally turns to look at the enlarged picture on the screen, the number of the incident room in bold digits beneath it. ‘New evidence suggests he is ...’ Her voice breaks. Sally starts to cry. ‘The police think this man has our little girl.’

Melanie reaches out to touch Sally’s arm. ‘It’s OK. Thank you, Sally. I’ll explain from here.’

‘Two witnesses saw this man carrying a girl in a green dress across a car park very near the place Amelie disappeared. We have good reason to believe from her outfit and her distinctive shoes that the girl was Amelie.’ She pauses for impact. ‘We understand the man we’re looking for drives a black Volvo. And this image was compiled from the matching descriptions of our two new key witnesses. I cannot stress how urgent it is for us to find this man. If you have any suspicion who it might be, please phone in. That mark on his face may be a mole. Or it may be a temporary blemish. But don’t worry about making a mistake,’ she adds. ‘We can rule people out very quickly. And if you’ve noticed any unusual activity involving a black Volvo. Or a man who looks like this who drives a black Volvo. Again. Please ... ring the incident room number .’

Melanie turns her head to Lisa who opens the floor for questions and only now does Melanie suddenly remember her tight suit. Sits up straighter. She’s expecting questions about this breakthrough. This man.

But the tabloid journalist who stood up earlier is back on his feet. ‘Is it true that Amelie’s father Matthew Hill is facing charges for threatening a previous suspect? Dawn Meadows. That he was given Dawn Meadows’ address? By someone on the team? That he forced himself into Mrs Meadows’ house, despite her being totally innocent of any involvement. And that senior officers have lost faith in your handling of this whole inquiry?’

Melanie’s stunned. There’s muttering across the room. A loud wave of clicks as photographers smell blood. The TV cameras swing. Sally, still crying, turns to Melanie, her expression disbelief. And panic.

‘Day five. Is hope lost?’ another journalist asks. ‘Have you mishandled this whole inquiry—’

‘My team are working tirelessly,’ Melanie says, her heart pounding in her chest. ‘Every aspect of this inquiry is subject to scrutiny. And I take full responsibility for all aspects of this investigation. But this is not the time, not the day, for questions about previous suspects. Or losing hope. Today is about asking for help to find this man. The man we believe has abducted Amelie Hill. Look at the picture—’

‘But have mistakes been made? We’re day five, DI Sanders,’ the tabloid journalist repeats, still standing.

Lisa suddenly stands too. ‘This is not helpful.’ Sally is now sobbing uncontrollably. ‘Mrs Hill was very brave to come here. And she doesn’t need this.’ Lisa moves swiftly to help Sally stand and steer her from the room, the TV cameras swinging to follow her.

Melanie feels her phone vibrate in her pocket. It will be the super, watching on the livestream link. She feels her chest clamp tighter, wondering who the hell leaked this to the media. Dawn Meadows? No – more likely her husband Adam. He was furious about Matthew threatening Dawn. Or maybe he thinks this will clinch the ‘no charges’ deal for his wife. Whatever ...

‘I repeat that I will answer any questions about the broader inquiry at the appropriate time. But my absolute priority today is finding Amelie. Which means finding this new key suspect.’ Her voice grows louder with her determination. ‘I will take any questions about this new lead. But I will not have our focus today undermined. We have an eight-year-old girl still missing.’ She pauses. ‘And two parents whose hearts are breaking.’