Page 131 of Stolen Ones

‘Yep.’

‘Put an imaginary clock around it and put Lexi Walters at teno’clock.’

‘Er…okay.’

‘Where would you put Paula in relation to Lexi?’

‘I’d go north-east.’

‘Give me a number.’

‘Twelvish.’

‘And where would you place Helen in relation to Paula.’

‘South. Sorry, sixo’clock.’

‘Jesus, I think the table is a map in his head.’

Alison rolled towards him.

He played the footage and showed her his drawing.

She took another look and began to nod. ‘Penn, I think you might be on to something. He’s thinking of the last place he left them. He needs to be asked about Grace.’

‘Someone needs to tell the boss.’

Seventy-Nine

Kim sat back at the table and resumed the interview. Both Harte and his lawyer looked at her questioningly. What could possibly be urgent enough to remove her from the room while a suspect was in the process of confessing to the abduction and murder of three little girls? She’d wondered the same thing until she’d heard what Penn had to say.

‘My apologies for the interruption, Mr Harte, but it was important. We have gained access to your phone.’ She paused. ‘We understand you like your tea with one sugar,’ she said so that he knew she wasn’t bluffing.

Kate Swift frowned. She appeared to be irritated that she wasn’t in on the joke.

Harte hid his surprise with a resigned nod of the head.

‘We can see her. She’s safe and well, just as you intended.’

Swift was looking from her to Harte, as though waiting for someone to tell her what was going on.

‘Let’s finish this, Mr Harte. Why don’t you tell us where you’ve put Grace Lennard?’

His lawyer appeared stunned.

‘Who the hell is Grace Lennard?’ Swift asked as Harte’s hand rested on the table.

Kim met Harte’s intense stare and waited.

Swift watched the silent exchange for a full minute.

‘Inspector, I’d like to pause the interview. I need to confer with my client.’

Kim held his gaze for a few more seconds before pausing the interview.

Swift had cut them off quickly, and Kim just hoped her team had got what they needed.

She stepped outside, and Bryant followed, closing the door behind him.