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Sharon turns to her husband and grips his arm. ‘What are they saying – what do they mean, she wasn’t there?’

I slip a glance to Leo, who has dropped his gaze to his scuffed shoes. His cheeks are flushed. I was right – he knew all along.

‘We’ve spoken to Millie Connor’s parents and they’ve confirmed that she was wearing the daisy outfit at the party. Not Daisy. As far as we can tell, your daughter was never there.’

‘Of course she was!’ cries Sharon. ‘I told you – I saw her . And don’t try to tell me I don’t know my own daughter. I’ve never heard such – such rubbish .’

‘I’m afraid there’s no room for doubt, Mrs Mason. And as I’m sure you will realize, this changes the whole investigation. We will now have to go back through the events of that day and establish a definitive last sighting of your daughter: when Daisy was last seen, where and who by. We will also have to widen our inquiries beyond the guests at the party to Daisy’s schoolmates, her teachers and anyone else she may have come into contact with in the days leading up to her disappearance. And as part of that process, we will have to interview you again, to ascertain exactly where you were during the day on Tuesday. Do you understand?’

Barry’s eyes narrow. It’s as if a switch has flipped. Or perhaps a tap turned off is the better analogy. Because there are no tears now. ‘Are we under arrest?’

I look at him steadily. ‘No, Mr Mason, you are not under arrest, we are interviewing you as what we call “significant witnesses”. We have a special suite here, for interviews like that, and you should be aware that we will be videoing the conversation. It’s important we capture everything you can tell us. So if you could come with me now, Mr Mason, we’ll then talk to Mrs Mason afterwards.’

Sharon refuses to look at me. She shifts her position on the chair and her chin lifts with a sharp, defiant little movement.

‘We would also like your permission to conduct a forensic search of your home.’

Barry Mason looks at me, openly hostile. ‘I watch TV. I know what that means. You think we did it but you don’t have enough evidence to get a warrant. Do you .’

I refuse to rise to the bait. ‘A search of that kind might provide invaluable – ’

But he’s already shaking his head. ‘No way – absolutely no bloody way. I’m not having you lot fitting me up for something I didn’t do.’

‘We don’t fit people up , Mr Mason.’

He snorts, ‘Yeah, right.’

We stare at one another. Impasse.

‘I’ve arranged for an appropriate adult to attend,’ I say eventually. ‘They should be here in the next ten minutes.’

‘Oh, fuck off,’ snaps Barry. ‘If I need someone to hold my hand I’ll call my bloody lawyer.’

‘Not for you,’ I say evenly. ‘For your son. We need to interview Leo as well, and he’ll need someone present to protect his interests. And I’m afraid that can’t be either of you.’

As I show Barry through the door and reach to close it I hear the sound of retching and turn to see Leo being violently sick against the wall. Maureen is on her feet at once, reaching for the box of tissues, putting her arm round his shoulders, telling him it’s OK. The last thing I see before I close the door is Sharon Mason reaching into her bag for a wet wipe and bending to clean some infinitesimal spatter from her shoes.

***

BBC Midlands Today

Thursday 21 July 2016 | Last updated at 10:09

Daisy Mason: Police extend search to Port Meadow

Oxford police are using a helicopter to help in the search for 8-year-old Daisy Mason, who was last seen on Tuesday night. The ancient Port Meadow site to the west of the city extends for over 120 hectares and has never been cultivated. As Detective Inspector Adam Fawley told the BBC, ‘It’s a huge open expanse, with heavily wooded areas around the boundaries. Using a helicopter to support our teams on the ground will help us carry out the search far more quickly and efficiently.’ DI Fawley refused to confirm whether the helicopter is fitted with an infra-red camera, but stressed that the police are still treating the investigation as a missing person inquiry.

Owners of the allotments adjoining Port Meadow have also been asked to check their sheds and outbuildings.

If you have information about Daisy contact Thames Valley CID incident room on 01865 0966552.

***

10.41

Amy Carey@JustAGirlWhoCant

I live north of Port Meadow – I can see the helicopter looking for Daisy Mason. Fingers crossed they find her soon #FindDaisy

10.43

Danny Chadwick@ChadwickDanielPJ

This gets weirder the longer it goes on – are the police suggesting an 8YO could have got across the railway line in the dark? #DaisyMason

10.44

Amy Carey@JustAGirlWhoCant

@ChadwickDanielPJ I thought it odd too – you can’t even get on to Port Meadow from here any more. You have to go all the way round by Walton Well

10.46

Samantha Weston@MissusScatterbox

I can’t see this ending happily. RIP poor little angel x #DaisyMason

10.47

Amy Carey@JustAGirlWhoCant

There are literally 100s of people out helping with the search #FindDaisy

10.52

Scott Sullivan@SnapHappyWarrior

#DaisyMason Like I said – it’ll be the parents. Bet the father was abusing her – he looks the type

10.53

Jenny T@56565656Jennifer

@SnapHappyWarrior That’s a disgusting thing to say. Trolls like you make me sick #FindDaisy

10.54

Scott Sullivan@SnapHappyWarrior

@56565656Jennifer How many times does this have to happen before idiots like you see whats in front of their faces? #DaisyMason

10.54

Jenny T@56565656Jennifer

@SnapHappyWarrior Look at that picture of Daisy taken 3 days before she went missing. That’s not the picture of an abused child #Happy

10.55

Kathy Baines@FulloftheWarmSouth

#DaisyMason I don’t understand this at all. All I know is its really heartbreaking. So so sad

10.56

Jimmie Chews@RedsUnderTheShed

I heard chance of finding a kid dead is 80% if it goes over 24 hrs. This #DaisyMason thing was always going to end in Tragedy

10.56

J the Kid@Johnnycomelately

It’s a sad reflection on our modern media world that everyone always suspects the parents. As if your child going missing wasn’t bad enough

10.59

Kathy Baines@FulloftheWarmSouth

@Johnnycomelately I agree – I wish people wouldn’t sensationalize everything. It’s so horrible already #DaisyMason

10.59

JJ@JampotJamboree88

I don’t believe any of it it doesn’t add up v suspiscious #DaisyMason

11.00

Kevin Brown@OxfordBornandBred

#FindDaisy #DaisyMason #Oxford #DaisyWhereAreYou #Missing

11.01

Eddie Thorncliffe@EagleflyoverDover

Just caught up with that #DaisyMason TV appeal – absolutely NO WAY those parents are innocent. Horrible body language

11.02

Lilian Chamberlain@LilianChamberlain

Twitter can be vile sometimes. Leave those poor parents alone. They’re going through enough. Shut up and let the police do their job #FindDaisy

11.03

Scott Sullivan@SnapHappyWarrior

@LilianChamberlain Can’t believe anyone can be that bloody naive. Just you wait, you’ll see I’m right #DaisyMason

***