Discarded M. Hunter (the snowy day read aloud TXT) 📖

her husband’s face for reassurance. ‘We just want her home as soon as possible.’

‘As do we, Mrs Neville,’ Cavendish placates, ‘but I don’t want to induce any unnecessary harm.’

‘But children not located in the first twenty-four hours rarely return home, isn’t that right, Detective Cavendish?’ Tina challenges, before catching my eye. ‘I read that in one of your books, Emma. It’s true, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we do everything we can to get her back today?’

I don’t think the question is aimed at me, but Tina’s hopeful stare is fixed on me, and I don’t know how to respond.

There is a hint of irritation in Cavendish’s voice when she answers. ‘I don’t believe in statistics when it comes to missing-person cases, Mrs Neville. Every investigation is different and just because one set of circumstances occurred once, it certainly doesn’t mean they will occur again.’

‘She’s been missing since three o’clock,’ Trey Neville grunts, ‘and there’s only five and a bit hours left until we hit twenty-four. We do the press conference as soon as possible, and get our Jo-Jo back.’

Cavendish is smart enough not to argue and nods as she stands. ‘Very well, I’ll have our media team draw up a script that you can use to make a personal plea for her safe return.’

‘We want Emma to read it,’ Tina says matter-of-factly.

‘What?’ Cavendish and I say in unison.

‘Well, she’s a well-known figure in the area, and because there are similarities in how her own sister disappeared, we thought it could help the case. Maybe if the kidnappers know she is on the case, they’ll have a change of heart and return Jo-Jo.’

Grief and desperation can make anyone act out of character, but this is a new one even on me. I’m trying to think of a gracious way to explain that my involvement in the press conference would just muddy the waters, when Cavendish beats me to it.

‘No way! I’m sorry, but the last thing your daughter needs is the media circus that follows Emma Hunter around town.’

I’d have phrased it differently but at least we’re on the same page for once.

‘And nobody has drawn any link between what happened to her sister and what has happened to Jo-Jo. There’s no reason to think the cases are connected. It’s purely coincidental that they went missing from this area. I think the press conference needs to be personal and heartfelt.’

The Nevilles both look to me, like they’re expecting me to argue with Cavendish, but I offer a meek shrug of my shoulders. ‘I think DI Cavendish is right,’ I mumble.

Cavendish claps her hands together as a judge would bang his gravel to indicate the end of court proceedings. ‘Good. That’s settled then. Emma, can I have a word with you outside, please?’

I’m grateful to be exiting the stuffiness of the room, but Cavendish closing the door and leaving Robyn inside puts me on edge.

‘How is your book with Aurélie progressing? When can I expect to see it on the shelves of the local supermarket?’

I don’t rise to the bait.

‘We’re putting the finishing touches to it now. It’s been a rough few months for her, but I think she’s finally able to see some light at the end of the tunnel.’

Cavendish presses a finger to her lips, as if she’s deep in thought, trying to unravel some great mystery akin to the eminent Sherlock Holmes. ‘Mmm, good. I still think she should have stood trial in this country for her complicity in some of those activities, but it wasn’t my decision.’ She pauses, the finger still pressed to her lips. ‘I’ve been thinking… I don’t want my real name used in your book.’

Of all the things I thought she might say when we were alone, this was the last. ‘You don’t want me to use your name?’

‘That’s right. If anyone wants to know who the SIO was, they can look it up online. I’d rather any lasting memory of me not be consigned to some second-rate book bought by those seeking titillation and conspiracy.’

I bite down hard on my tongue so as not to react to the slight on my writing career. ‘You’re barely a footnote in the manuscript anyway,’ I offer disingenuously.

She lowers her finger, and fixes me with a hard stare. ‘Even so, I’d rather not see my name in print.’

I can’t believe I’m even considering her request. ‘What do you propose I do instead?’

‘I don’t know, make something up. You’re good at that, aren’t you?’

I bite harder on my tongue. ‘Okay. I suppose I can give you a different identifier if that’s what you want.’

She smiles, but it is clearly forced and lacks sincerity. ‘Good. And I’d appreciate you not speaking to the Nevilles again while we continue to search for little Jo-Jo. I don’t want you using yet another family’s misfortune to further your career.’

My mouth drops in astonishment. ‘I wouldn’t! I want to see Jo-Jo’s safe return as much as you.’

‘Good, then we have an understanding. I’ll stay out of your way, and you stay the hell away from this case.’

I had naively hoped that after the support Rachel and I provided with figuring out the truth about Aurélie’s abduction she would understand my writing takes second place to finding justice for the victims and their families. I have never put my writing career ahead of that virtue. Do other people think that too?

Shrinking back into my shell, I follow Cavendish back along the corridor, and I’m relieved when she doesn’t follow me through the security door. She’s about to pull it closed when a troublesome thought pops out of my mouth before I can stop it.

‘You’re certain Jo-Jo hasn’t just run away? Tina Neville, she said something about Jo-Jo giving them a bit of trouble when she and Trey got together.’

Cavendish considers me for a moment. ‘Okay, I’ll bite, Emma, what is it you’re suggesting?’

I’m genuinely not trying to trip her up this time. ‘I just meant, if there’s a history of trouble in the family, I’m