Free Deadly Focus by R. C. Bridgestock Page A

she’d simply gone to her grandma’s home a few hundred yards down Rochester Road, onto Rochester Way, to show her the bridesmaid dress she was wearing. She’d never been a bridesmaid before and was overjoyed to have been asked by her Auntie. She didn’t stay at her grandma’s. She was straight in and out as her mum had told her. Grandma watched Daisy as she walked back home until she turned out of her sight into Rochester Road.
    ‘We know little Daisy didn’t make the next few hundred yards to her door. Her naked body was found on wasteland near to Dean Reservoir some twelve hours later at 6.20 a.m. yesterday. She hadn’t been hidden and was about twenty-five yards from the road. She’d been wearing a grey duffle coat, black shoes, and a jade green bridesmaid dress. None of these items of clothing have been recovered. She hadn’t been sexually assaulted and she died from a single blow to her head. Due to the ferocity of the blow, she would have died instantly. This was the brutal and callous killing of a young, defenceless child by a calculating murderer who needs to be caught.
    ‘It’s also with great sadness that I can tell you that her grandma, Irene, having heard that her little princess, as she called her, had been snatched from the street, collapsed with chest pains. She was taken by ambulance to Harrowfield Hospital, where she suffered a fatal heart attack earlier this morning.
    ‘I appeal to anyone who has the slightest suspicion about a partner or family member to contact us. We would also like to hear from anyone who was in Rochester Road or Rochester Way yesterday evening and who saw either Daisy or anyone acting suspiciously. Finally, anyone who was in the area of Dean Reservoir yesterday. Has anyone any questions?’
    A show of hands told Dylan he’d have to curtail the question and answer session otherwise he would be there all day.
    ‘Jim Blake, Daily Mirror , what’s Grandma’s last name?’
    ‘Barker.’
    ‘ Harrowfield Times , how many officers are working on the case?’
    ‘Around forty, at this time.’
    ‘ Tandem Bridge Echo , how are the parents coping?’
    ‘Unless we’ve lost a child ourselves, I don’t think any of us can understand the pain and misery they’re going through. Daisy’s mum has had to receive continued medication to help her cope, and with the news of her mum dying too.’ Dylan shook his head. ‘We can only imagine the trauma this evil killer has caused.’
    Dylan held up an enlarged photograph. ‘We have pictures available of a bridesmaid dress similar to the one that Daisy was wearing.
    ‘As you can imagine, we’ve a vast amount of work to do, so thank you.’
    Dylan continued to be bombarded by questions, although none could be heard clearly with everyone talking at once. He held up his hand in an attempt to halt the noise. The room became less frantic as people began to listen once more.
    ‘I’ll be available for one-to-one interviews later, thanks again,’ he said as he rose from his seat. The TV stations lined up. The local radio and the papers all wanted their own individual photographs or footage to use. Dylan patiently ensured they were all satisfied before he left the arena. It just might help to gather the information that he would need to lead him to the killer, who knew? An hour later he returned to his office, hoarse.
     
    The incident room was already a hive of industry. The tapping of fingers on keyboards was like rain on a windowpane. Searches were continuing and these had now extended to the reservoir and surrounding areas. Dylan sat quietly in his office, scribbling down notes as he thought about the lines of enquiry. Where are Daisy’s clothes? Soil samples, vegetation samples could link the killer to the area. Possible routes of access to Rochester Road and Rochester Way? CCTV, garages en route? Who are the ‘creeps’ the ‘weirdos’ the strange people in the area? The locals will know who they are. Sensitive searching of