In Safe Hands. J. P. Carter

      ‘There you are, Anna,’ he said as she approached him. ‘I came straight from the Yard as soon as I realised how serious this is. For obvious reasons, the Commissioner himself is taking a personal interest in the case and I want to make sure that we’re on top of things.’

      ‘We’re getting there, sir,’ she said. ‘It’s a strange one, though, and as yet I’m not sure what to make of it.’

      ‘Well, the world’s media is camped out there on the road and we need to stage a formal press conference as soon as possible. In the meantime I’ve said I’ll go and update them after I’ve spoken to you. So talk me through it, Anna. And do it while you show me the crime scene.’

      This time they had to don hooded white paper suits and shoe covers to enter the nursery. The SOCOs were busy dusting for prints and searching for clues, but Anna doubted that the kidnappers had left many behind, if any at all. They were quite clearly professionals, who’d had this abduction intricately planned.

      She explained to Nash how the men had gained access to the building and what had happened once they were inside. She showed him the storeroom and the Quiet Room. And while in the playroom she drew his attention to the dozens of pictures on the walls that had been drawn or painted by the children. Names were scrawled on the bottom of each one, and Anna spotted works of art by some of those who’d been taken, including Daniel, Liam, Simone, Molly and Grace.

      And there were a few group photographs of the kids with the staff. They were gathered in the garden on a sunny day, standing in front of a large Christmas tree and sitting around a table containing a birthday cake with four candles on it.

      ‘I’m pretty sure that those men knew what to expect before they came in here,’ Anna said to Nash. ‘So the question is, had they been here before to look around? Or did someone provide them with all the information they needed?’

      ‘So what’s your impression of the owner?’ Nash asked.

      ‘I haven’t yet formed one,’ she said. ‘But I intend to speak to her again before I get the troops together for a briefing. I want to ask her about an incident last year at one of the Peabody Nurseries. Apparently she was fined three hundred thousand pounds after a child choked to death on a grape.’

      ‘I can vaguely recall that case,’ he said. ‘But I didn’t realise the nursery involved received such a whopping fine.’

      ‘Well it could mean that she’s got serious money problems,’ Anna said. ‘So maybe she decided to arrange for the kids to be taken so that she can now hold them to ransom?’

      Nash shrugged. ‘It sounds a bit far-fetched to me, Anna.’

      ‘Perhaps, but we shouldn’t rule it out. After all, this wasn’t a difficult crime to commit. All those blokes had to do was get inside the nursery and she made it bloody easy for them.’

      Back at the community centre, Nash said he was satisfied that Anna had everything under control.

      ‘I’ll bring the Commissioner up to date and make sure you get everything you need,’ he added. ‘But before I go, I want to know that you’re happy to remain at the helm of this one. I know the circumstances are close to your heart and I saw the news clip where the reporter put you on the spot earlier. It won’t surprise me if the press continue to make a big thing of what happened to you. I can see the headlines now – detective whose own daughter was kidnapped by her ex leads hunt for the nursery school kidnappers.’

      ‘I can live with it, sir,’ Anna said. ‘And I guarantee that it won’t be a distraction.’

      Nash gave a stiff nod. ‘And that’s exactly what I intend to tell anyone who asks me if it’s an issue, including those reporters out front. But if it does become one, then you need to tell me, Anna.’

      ‘You’ll be the first to know, sir, but please don’t hold your breath.’

      Nash grinned, showing white, even teeth. ‘Just keep me updated,’ he said. ‘And rest assured that I’ve got your back.’

      After Nash went off to speak to the media Anna went to find DI Walker. She told him to round up the team for a full briefing in the hall.

      ‘I’ll be along as soon as I’ve had another word with Sarah Ramsay,’ she said.