Stephen Leather: The Bombmaker

Katie nodded.

'If we don't put this man in prison, he might do something to hurt another little girl. You wouldn't want him to hurt anyone else, would you?'

Katie put down her plastic cup. She looked at the policewoman for several seconds. 'No,' she said eventually. 'No, I wouldn't.'

'Good,' said Teresa. 'That's good, Katie. Okay, shall we go and have a look at these men?'

Katie nodded solemnly.

Teresa looked at Martin and Andy and they nodded too.

'Right,' said FitzGerald. 'It's this way.'

'You can both come,' Teresa said to Martin and Andy. 'Katie'll probably be more secure if you're with her.'

Andy took Katie's hand and they followed FitzGerald out of the interview room and along the corridor. Martin walked with Teresa. 'How's she been, since the kidnapping?' the policewoman asked.

'Fine,' said Martin. 'She saw a child psychologist for a few weeks afterwards, but there didn't appear to be any problems.'

'Perhaps she didn't realise the danger she was in.'

Martin shook his head. 'No, it wasn't that. She knew exactly what was happening. She just coped with it all, far better than we thought she would.'

FitzGerald held open a door and they all trooped in. It was a long, narrow room with a curtain running virtually the whole length of one side. FitzGerald motioned for Martin and Andy to stand with him. Teresa held out her hand to Katie and Katie took it. 'Right, Katie, let me explain what's going to happen. My friend over there' -she nodded at FitzGerald – 'is going to pull the curtain back, and you'll see the men sitting down on the other side of the window. Look at them carefully, look at every one of them at least twice, and then tell me the number of the man you recognise. There's no need to worry. They can't see you. Okay?'

'Okay,' said Katie.

'Are you ready?'

'I guess so.'

'Good girl. You're being very brave, Katie. I'm very proud of you. We all are.'

Katie looked over at her parents, and they nodded as if to encourage her. Teresa signalled to FitzGerald to draw the curtain back. He dimmed the lights first, then pulled on a cord. There was a ripping noise and the curtain parted in the middle.

There were eight men, all in their forties, sitting on wooden chairs and staring ahead blankly. They were all holding pieces of cardboard on which was printed a number, from one to eight.

'Take your time, Katie,' said Teresa.

Katie stared at the men. She walked slowly down the length of the room, gazing at their faces. The Nice Man was number five. He was wearing a black pullover and brown corduroy trousers and his hair was all messy, the way her dad's was when he'd just got out of bed. Katie walked back along the window.

'There's no rush, Katie,' said Teresa. 'Take all the time you need.'

Katie shrugged. 'He's not there.'

Teresa knelt down in front of Katie and put her hands on her shoulders. 'There's no need to be scared, Katie. He can't hurt you any more.'

Katie looked straight at the policewoman. She took a deep breath. 'He's not there.'

Teresa frowned. 'Are you sure?'

Katie nodded solemnly and made the sign of the cross over her heart. 'Cross my heart and swear to die.'