Nevertheless, Strike found certain incongruities in the story. While neither local journalist made an issue of this, it seemed odd, to say the least, that the two girls had visited the beach before sunrise. Of course, there might have been an innocent, undisclosed reason, such as a dare or a bet. Sheila Kennett had suggested that Daiyu had the whip hand in the relationship with the older girl. Perhaps Cherie Gittins had been too weak-willed to resist the pressure of the cult leaders’ child, who’d been determined to paddle no matter the hour and the temperature. Cherie’s simpering smile didn’t suggest a strong personality.
While the sky darkened outside the office window, Strike made a fresh search of the newspaper archives, this time looking for reports into Daiyu’s inquest. He found one dated September 1995 in the
CHILD RULED ‘LOST AT SEA’
A verdict of ‘lost at sea’ was delivered today at the Norwich Coroner’s Office, where an inquest was held into the drowning of 7-year-old Daiyu Wace of Chapman Farm, Felbrigg.
Unusually, the inquest was held in the absence of a body.
Head of the local coastguard, Graham Burgess, told the court that in spite of an extensive search, it had proved impossible to find the little girl’s remains.
‘There was a powerful current near the beach that morning, which could have carried a small child a long distance,’ Burgess told the court. ‘Most drowning victims rise to the surface or wash ashore eventually, but sadly a minority remain unrecoverable. I’d like to offer the service’s sincere condolences to the family.’
17-year-old Cherie Gittins (pictured), a friend of Daiyu’s family, took the primary schooler for an early morning swim on 29th July, after the pair had delivered farm vegetables to a local shop.
‘Daiyu was always nagging me to take her to the beach,’ a visibly distressed Gittins told the coroner, Jacqueline Porteous. ‘I thought she just wanted a paddle. The water was really cold, but she just dived right in. She was always really brave and adventurous. I was worried, so I went after her. One minute she was laughing, then she disappeared – went under and didn’t come up.
‘I couldn’t reach her, I couldn’t even see where she was. The light was bad because it was so early. I went back to the beach and I was screaming and shouting for help. I saw Mr and Mrs Heaton walking their dog. Mr Heaton went to phone the police and the coastguard.
‘I never wanted any harm to come to Daiyu. This has been the worst thing that’s ever happened to me and I’ll never get over it. I just want to apologise to Daiyu’s parents. I’m so, so sorry. I’d give absolutely anything if I could bring Daiyu back.’
Giving evidence, Muriel Carter, owner of a beachside café, said she saw Gittins taking the child down to the beach, shortly before sunrise.
‘They had towels with them and I thought it was a silly time to be going swimming, that’s why it stuck in my mind.’
Interviewed after the inquest, bereaved mother Mrs Mazu Wace (24) said:
‘I never dreamed anyone would take my child without permission, let alone take her swimming in the sea, in the dark. I’m still praying we’ll find her and be able to give her a decent burial.’
Mr Jonathan Wace (44), father of the dead girl, said:
‘This has been an appalling time and of course, it’s been made far worse by the uncertainty, but the inquest has given us some sense of closure. My wife and I are sustained by our religious faith and I’d like to thank the local community for their kindness.’
Strike reached for the notebook that was still in his pocket from his interview with Abigail Glover, re-read the
Strike sat in thought for a few more minutes, vaping, then made another search of the newspaper archives, now looking for information relating to Alex Graves, the man who, if Abigail was to be believed, was Daiyu’s biological father.
It took twenty minutes, but Strike finally found Graves’ obituary notice in a copy of
