Page 49 of Stolen Ones

Kim had heard something like that but hadn’t believed it.

Alison continued, ‘Stockholm syndrome often dissipates after the trauma of the event, although it is possible to never fully recover.’

‘Is that why they still have such deep feelings for him?’ Penn asked.

‘Very few victims acknowledge they suffered Stockholm syndrome. The steps to recovery require intense therapy, and recovery is different for everyone depending on the severity of abuse, length of time held and the psychological mindset before the event occurred.’

Alison paused for a moment as she appeared to digest everything she’d been told.

‘A year in captivity is a long time. It’s understandable that they developed these feelings of affection and loyalty. They’re not going to tell you anything useful.’

Kim had already worked that one out.

‘Believe it or not you’re gonna have better luck getting it from him.’

‘And you can help us with that?’ Kim asked.

‘Hold my beer, Inspector. Hold my beer.’

Twenty-Seven

‘What exactly do you want the boss to do?’ Stacey asked her friend as they watched on the monitor.

‘I’m going to watch everything back, but now I just want to see some live interaction to get a feel for his behaviour and traits.’

Alison had asked the boss to go in and let him know about the Hawne Park discovery. The boss had gone to brief Woody first.

‘What are you doing, Penn?’ Stacey asked as he drew a line down the middle of the whiteboard.

‘Dates and names,’ he answered without turning. ‘All getting a bit confusing and I like to see stuff in black and white.’

She watched as he worked quickly forming tabulated columns.

Libby Turner taken 1992 returned 1993

Suzie Keene taken 1994 returned 1995

Melody Jones taken 1996

‘So what went wrong?’ Stacey asked as Alison busied herself with notebooks, pens and a couple of textbooks.

‘With what?’ Alison asked.

‘Melody. If these three cases are the work of one person—’

‘I think they are,’ Alison interrupted, looking at the board.

‘Why do you think so?’

‘Look at the regimentation of the timings. The abductions occur every two years. The girls are kept for one year and then released, unharmed.’

‘So I ask again: what went wrong with Melody? Why wasn’t she returned unharmed after a year?’

‘Maybe she saw him,’ Penn offered.

‘Or perhaps she didn’t get into the van as easily as the others and there was a struggle,’ Alison said.

‘Could he have escalated?’ Stacey asked.