Page 50 of Stolen Ones

‘From what?’ Alison asked. ‘He wasn’t being violent to them in the first place. We don’t actually know why he kidnapped them. We know it wasn’t sexual so my guess at this stage is some kind of twisted voyeurism.’

‘No camera in the bathroom and a lockable door,’ Penn offered. ‘He wasn’t watching them bathe or undress.’

Alison shrugged. ‘I got nothing yet. I mean is there anyone else you can talk to, any victims prior to Suzie and Libby? If there was a change in his behaviour with Melody it might—’

‘There are no similar incidents prior to ’92,’ Stacey offered.

‘We really need to know why he killed Melody and not the others, and we need to know why it stopped.’

‘Shit,’ Stacey said as a cold shiver passed over her.

‘What?’ Penn asked.

‘What if Melody was the first one he killed? What if that became his new MO? What if Melody wasn’t his last.’

‘Oh shit,’ Penn said, returning to his desk.

Twenty-Eight

‘Hope your lunch was okay,’ Kim said, stepping back into the interview room with Bryant right behind her.

Alison had instructed her not to bait him, and her boss had warned her to go gently. Do whatever it takes to find Grace Lennard had been his instruction.

It was clear that she was expected to play nicely with a man who, in her mind, had kidnapped two girls, killed Melody Jones and knew the whereabouts of Grace Lennard. She’d certainly give it her best.

‘It was fine,’ he answered. ‘Not enough salt in the potatoes but it filled a gap.’

It was on the tip of her tongue to assure him she’d pass his comments to the chef. But knowing Betty Miles in the canteen, she could imagine the response and it would contain a couple of fingers.

‘Good to hear,’ she said, linking her fingers together on the table before her. ‘Let’s talk about your involvement with Hawne Park.’

‘Of course, but it was so long ago that my memory might not be as accurate as you’d like.’

She wondered if his memory loss would include the bones that had been buried there.

‘How did you become involved with Hawne Park?’ she asked.

‘I’m hardly involved with them, Inspector. I made a small donation to their cause many years ago, after reading about their plight in the newspaper.’

‘You read a lot of papers, don’t you, Steven?’

Kim felt Bryant knock her foot gently beneath the table.

No goading.

‘I think it’s good to keep abreast of events in your local area,’ he answered.

‘And what did you learn about the project?’

‘That it was a small community initiative trying to make their surroundings a little more attractive.’

‘And that kind of project appeals to you?’ Kim asked.

‘Inspector, I have been fortunate in my business dealings over the years. I have made much more than I ever need to spend. I’ve always known when to retreat from a situation so that I don’t get caught…out.’

Kim felt the muscles in her jaw tense. He was playing with her. She knew that, and she had been shackled in how to respond.

‘You donated a few thousand pounds to their nature programme and that’s it?’