DS Jessica Daniel series: Think of the Children / Playing with Fire / Thicker Than Water – Books 4–6 by Kerry Wilkinson

and Lucy were natural parents to both of them and it sounded as if they had been in a relationship over some years.
    Neil was still sitting on the armrest of his wife’s chair, stroking her hair. Perhaps it was his presence but Lucy slowly began to open up. It was clear her memories from fourteen years
ago were still vivid.
    ‘Can you tell me about the football shirt Toby was wearing?’ Jessica asked.
    Lucy took a deep breath. ‘His dad was a big City supporter. They used to go to games together. I would have to stop him wearing it when it was dirty because he’d keep it on all the
time otherwise.’
    ‘What about the area where he went missing? Did he play there often?’
    ‘I guess. He used to pick up his football then go out with his friends. He’d usually be back by the time it got dark but . . .’ Lucy didn’t finish her sentence and
Jessica didn’t push it.
    Neither Neil nor Lucy recognised Daisy Peters, although it was definitely a long shot that they would have done.
    After forty minutes, Lucy stood. ‘I’m going upstairs for a lie-down,’ she said.
    The two detectives had asked more or less everything they needed and the woman seemed sleepy. At some point she would likely be asked to look at the clothes to confirm they were from her son
– although there were no real doubts they belonged to Toby because the football shirt sponsor, style and size matched what had been reported at the time and it was more a formality than
anything.
    Neil escorted his wife out of the room, then returned and sat fully in the seat himself. ‘Don’t worry about her; it’s always hard at this time of year.’
    Jessica nodded. ‘I guess it would be coming up to Christmas and all.’
    ‘It’s not just that. It was the first week of December when Toby went missing. It always brings it back, especially when it gets dark so early.’
    Jessica paused for a moment. She had read the file through at least three times and the significance of the date of Toby’s and now Isaac’s disappearance had somehow passed her by. It
was likely because the file was in such a jumbled mess but, now she thought about it, they would have gone missing on more or less the same date fourteen years apart. Neil didn’t seem to
notice Jessica’s confusion and continued talking in a quieter voice. ‘It’s actually one of her good days today.’
    ‘How do you mean?’ Cornish asked.
    Neil lowered his voice further, leaning forward. ‘She drinks quite a bit. I’ve got used to it now we’ve been together for a few years. We used to have arguments about it but I
kind of let it go now. I try to shield Olivia and Tasha from it.’
    ‘What happened to Toby’s father?’ Jessica asked.
    ‘Dean? He’s living somewhere in Wales, just outside of Cardiff, I think.’
    ‘Did he get remarried?’
    ‘No but he does have a girlfriend and kids. He’s a decent guy actually. I’ve met him a few times. I think that losing Toby pushed them apart and there was no going back. I
guess it worked out all right for me.’ Neil must have realised how this could be interpreted because he quickly corrected himself. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean I’m glad he was taken
or anything like that . . .’ He reached across to pick up the empty mugs. ‘Can I get anything else for you?’
    It was clearly a cue for them to leave.
    Jessica and Cornish stood up together. ‘No, but I’ll leave you my card,’ Jessica said. ‘If anything comes up, just call me.’
    Neil lowered his voice until it was almost a whisper. ‘Do you think you’ll find a body?’
    Jessica looked into his eyes but couldn’t figure out why he was asking. He had no way of knowing they were digging in the woods. She chose her words carefully. ‘I’m not
sure.’
    Neil nodded. ‘After all these years it would be nice for Lucy to get some closure.’

10
    The two sergeants didn’t exchange much more than small talk after leaving the house but Jessica could hear Neil Martin’s words bouncing