Page 126 of Stolen Ones

She shook her head. ‘Doesn’t really matter, does it? Nothing really matters anymore.’

Alex pushed herself up off the bed. Her work here was done. All that remained for her to do now was lay low and wait.

She reached the door and turned. Just a reminder.

‘I’ll try and get you another one of those shavers. That’ll cheer you up.’

Seventy-Six

Suzie Keene had been placed in interview room number two. Right next door to where Steven Harte sat with his lawyer.

Kim took a seat opposite. ‘Thank you for coming in.’

‘I didn’t feel I had much of a choice when a squad car rolled up to my place of work.’

‘My apologies, but due to the urgent nature of our enquiries, it was the quickest way to get you here.’

‘I’m not sure why. I’ve already told you I can’t remember anything that will—’

‘Is this the room where you were held captive?’ Kim asked, taking out the mobile phone.

Suzie hesitated before looking at the still photo Penn had taken of the empty room while Grace had visited the bathroom.

She stared at it for a full minute before uttering a word.

Kim watched her closely as a multitude of emotions flitted across her face. Recognition, sadness and realisation. Perhaps the penny had dropped about how she’d furnished, arranged and decorated her own daughter’s room.

‘I…I think so. It looks the same, exactly the same, except…’

‘Except what?’ Kim asked.

Suzie tipped her head and studied it for another minute. ‘The bed. It’s smaller than I remember it.’

‘This one looks bunk-bed size,’ Kim agreed.

‘It definitely wasn’t a bunk bed. I’d slept in one of those at a friend’s house. It was definitely bigger than that bed. My own at home was a normal single, and the bed was bigger than that.’

‘Suzie, is there anything else you remember?’ Kim asked, placing the phone between them.

She shook her head. ‘Nothing since you asked me a few days ago.’

‘Anything at all about the location?’ Kim pushed.

‘I’ve told you. I didn’t look around as I got into the van. I don’t remember any sounds or smells or anything. It was so long ago.’

‘You were asked at the time and you didn’t remember anything then,’ Kim said, trying to keep the accusation out of her voice.

Suzie met her gaze but said nothing.

Kim picked up the phone. Penn had shown her how to revert back to the live feed.

She turned the phone around. ‘Look again.’

‘I’ve already confirmed…Is that…Oh my…There’s a little girl in there.’

‘There is, Suzie, and do you see what she’s doing? She’s crying. She’s alone and frightened. She wants to be back—’

‘It’ll pass after a few days. She’ll be fine,’ Suzie said dismissively.