‘Mrs Still? This is Dorcas Brewer from the Gazette. You were kind enough to speak to me about your daughter a few weeks ago.’
‘Yes, of course. Hello.’
‘Can you spare me a few minutes?’
‘Of course. Did you want to come round?’
‘I’d like to but this is something I have to get in today – though another time would be lovely, thank you. I’m actually doing a twice-weekly diary at the moment, under my name. It’s catching up on local events and people, looking back on things that have recently been in the news? For example, I don’t know if you read about little Jensen Brownsword? He’s the six-year-old who’s been fighting an awful cancer and they’ve been desperately searching for a bone marrow donor?’
Everything Dorcas said, Marion thought, sounded like a question because her voice rose up at the end.
‘Well, we heard yesterday that a match has been found and it looks as if they’ll be able to get Jensen into hospital and give him the bone marrow next week? It’s very hopeful, and local people raised a lot of money for Jensen so it’s quite a news item. That sort of thing, you know? And I thought I might do a paragraph about Kimberley, just as a reminder?’
‘There’s nothing new though – at least, I haven’t been told anything by the police.’
‘Then let’s remind them … give them a shot in the arm. I like to follow up on stories, people don’t forget. Can I say you’re still anxious for the police to reopen the case?’
‘Of course … and I am. Whether it would do any good or not I have my doubts.’
‘I think it always does good to keep up the pressure, Marion. OK, so if you’re happy? Nothing we didn’t cover when we met, nothing you need to worry about. But let’s keep it in the public eye, all right? Maybe just give me a word about how you are at the moment? Help me colour it in?’
‘Not any different, really.’ She hesitated, wondering whether to mention her visit to the prison and immediately decided against it. ‘I’m still waiting, I’m still hoping and praying. Life goes on, of course it does, but I miss Kimberley dreadfully. I’d give anything and do anything to know what happened to her.’
‘That’s great, Marion, thank you so much. It’ll be in tomorrow’s paper.’
It was.