‘So just to be sure I’m clear, you were in your own room all the time till the party, with your headphones on. And you didn’t hear your mum go out, or anyone come in, or any other loud noises?’
‘I was annoyed with Daisy. She ran away.’
‘Yes, I remember. OK, Leo, I’ll leave you to talk some more with DC Gislingham. Your mum is helping us with some things, so it may be a while before she can come and get you. Are you all right staying here a bit longer?’
But I’m not sure he even hears me. He’s on to the next goal.
Gislingham follows me out and pulls the door to.
‘Boss,’ he says, keeping his voice low, ‘I’ve been watching him for half an hour now and I have to tell you, I’m not sure that kid’s all there. I think he might be, you know, autistic or something.’
‘I don’t think it’s that,’ I say slowly. ‘But I agree with you. From what I just saw, something’s very wrong.’
***
At Bishop Christopher’s the corridors ring with the emptiness of the end of term. One or two teachers are still on-site, tidying and taking posters down ready for a new start in September, but otherwise the building is eerily empty. In the caretaker’s office at the back, Andrew Baxter has set up a rackety fan, and is sitting in front of the computer screen still scrolling through the footage from the school gate. His shirt is sticking to the back of the chair and he’s already had two texts from his wife asking when he’s going to be home. But he keeps telling himself, just one more file, just one more file. And sometimes, that sort of diligence is more than its own reward. He sits forward suddenly. Replays. Replays again. Then gets out his mobile and makes a call.
‘Boss? I’m at the school. I think you should see this. I think the goalposts may just have moved. Again.’
***
14.06
Scott Sullivan @SnapHappyWarrior
Just saw the news and want to say to all the prats out there – you were wrong, even the fuckwit police suspect the parents now #DaisyMason
14.08
Annabel White @TherealAnnabelWyte
Add a 
to your avatar to show your support and fight back against the trolls #DaisyChain #FindDaisy
14.09
Amanda May @BuskinforBritain
I can’t believe it – someone just said that #DaisyMason’s father had been grooming young girls on a website? Is that true? #disgusted
14.10
MtN @Nuckleduster1989
Those #Mason shits deserve to rot in jail – I reckon they were in it together – he was abusing the kid + the mother covered it up #sick
14.11
MickyF @TheGameBlader666
@Nuckleduster1989 I hope they get cancer. I hope they die a vile horrible death #Masons
14.11
Anon Anon @Rottweiller_1982
@Nuckleduster1989 @TheGameBlader666 Jail’s too good for them – they should burn in hell for what they did #DaisyMason #guilty
14.14
MickyF @TheGameBlader666
@Rottweiller_1982 @Nuckleduster1989 Perhaps someone should help them on their way. Police r so shit theyll never prove nothing
14.15
Beat Pete @dontgivemethatshit
Wd be doing the world a favour to kill those bastards – wish theyd fuck off and die @TheGameBlader666 @Rottweiller_1982 @Nuckleduster1989
14.15
Anon Anon @Rottweiller_1982
Can’t be hard to find out exactly where they live??? @TheGameBlader666 @dontgivemethatshit @Nuckleduster1989
14.15
UK Social Media News @UKSocialMediaNews
So who do you think is guilty? Barry Mason or Sharon Mason? Tweet us and join in our poll #DaisyMason
14.15
Emma Gemma @TiredandEmotional
#DaisyChain #FindDaisy
14.16
Ellery B @InTheKookoosNest
@UKSocialMediaNews I think it was the mother – looks like an utter utter cold-hearted bitch #DaisyMason
14.16
Anne Merrivale @Annie_Merrivale_
I really want to believe the Masons are innocent, but how can you? You just need to take one look at the way they were on TV #DaisyMason
14.17
MickyF @TheGameBlader666
Those Mason scum are going to get away with murder someone ought to go round there
14.18
Ellery B @InTheKookoosNest
Police shd give them a lie detector bet they wd fail #liars #DaisyMason
14.18
Linda Neal @Losingmyreligion
I truly do not know how those parents can live with themselves #DaisyMason
14.19
Angela Betterton @AngelaGBetterton
@Losingmyreligion You have it *so* wrong – they’re a nice normal family – I know them, you don’t. #DaisyMason
14.20
Janey Doe @VictoriaSandwich
I bet the body will never be found. It’ll be just like all those other missing children. #DaisyMason #RIP
14.20
Seb Keynes @CastingAspersions
@UKSocialMediaNews I think the wife did it too – just look at that TV appeal #DaisyMason
14.21
Ellery B @InTheKookoosNest
Here r the Qs I wd ask 1) how did an intruder supposedly get into yr garden when all those ppl was there? #DaisyMason
14.22
Ellery B @InTheKookoosNest
2) And Y R the police now asking about the time B4 the party? #DaisyMason
14.24
Linda Neal @Losingmyreligion
Is that tweet I just saw true? Do the police think she was dead before the party even started? #DaisyMason #appalled
14.26
Sandra Bowen @SheffieldThursday
It still might not be the family – what about those pedophile rings that were in the news last year? Could it have been them? #DaisyMason
14.26
Janey Doe @VictoriaSandwich
I think theyre in it together – father killed her the mother covered it up. Just shows u never know what goes on in private #DaisyMason
14.29
Bethany Grier @BonnieGirlie9009
A friend of mine says she’s sure she’s seen the father’s face on FindMeAHotDate.com – the cheating bastard #DaisyMason
14.32
Holly Harrison @HollieLolliepops
OMG I just found out I was only emailing the father of that poor little #DaisyMason – he was on a dating site under another name . . .
14.35
Holly Harrison @HollieLolliepops
. . . he’s deleted his profile but I downloaded it – you can see it here #cheat #liar #DaisyMason
14.37
Linda Neal @Losingmyreligion
Well if the father can #cheat then perhaps he can kill as well – clearly had a lot of nasty secrets #DaisyMason
14.55