All the Rage

Adam Fawley
3 April 2018
13.39

`˜Boss? It's Quinn.'

It's just started to rain, and the traffic is slowing to a haul. Beside me, Alex is hunched against the misted-up car window, staring out.

I pull the phone from its hands-free. Alex would normally bollock me for doing that while I'm driving but she barely seems to notice. She's hardly spoken since we left the doctor's.

`˜Boss `“ you there?'

`˜Yes, what is it?'

`˜Sorry to bother you, but no one knew where you were.'

`˜I had to go home briefly, that's all. What do you want?'

`˜Just thought you'd want to know. I tracked down the people who hired those self-drives. One was a woman of sixty who was moving some stuff for her church, which the vicar confirmed.'

God as alibi. Not bad. `˜And the other?'

`˜Bloke of fifty-nine, but I reckon he's a non-starter.'

`˜Why `“ did he have a good reason for being there?'

`˜No, because one) he's about eighteen stone and needed a winch to get him out of the sodding chair, and two) he's effing pond life. Sorry but the bloke's dead from the neck up. Jesus, I ended up wanting to eat my own hands `“'

`˜Doesn't mean he's not guilty, Quinn `“ you know as well as I do `“'

`˜Seriously, boss, he'd have to be Benedict sodding Cumberbatch to fake it that well.'

I take a deep breath; Quinn's a lazy sod but he has good instincts. Despite himself, sometimes. `˜OK, but don't lose sight of him. Stupidity isn't a defence. Nor is being tedious.'

Alex glances across and I smile at her. It's just routine. Nothing for her to worry about. But isn't that what she keeps telling me?

I return to Quinn. `˜Anything `“ you know `“ online?'

Quinn realizes suddenly that I have someone with me. That I can't spell it out.

`˜Oh, right. No. Baxter's been trawling some of those forums that target trans people but nothing doing yet. Though you wouldn't believe the poison those shits spew out `“ I only had a quick look but Jesus Christ. Baxter says he's never wanted a hot shower so much in his entire life.'

I did a training day once, with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command. Hats off to the people who do that sort of work but I felt contaminated for days. I couldn't even look at photos of my own son without seeing other children's faces, other children's bodies superimposed on his.

But I don't want that thought. Especially not now. Even allowing it into my mind feels like a betrayal, a dark jinx over the coming child.

I put the phone down and turn to Alex, who sits back in her seat and reaches for my hand.

`˜Everything's fine,' I say gently. `˜Let's just get you home.'

* * *

Phone call with Julia Davidson, head teacher, Wellington College, Carlisle Road, Basingstoke

3 April 2018, 2.05 p.m.

On the call, DC V. Everett

VE: I just wanted to have a quick chat with you about one of your former pupils, Mrs Davidson. Just for some background. The surname is Appleford?JD: Oh yes? Has there been some sort of problem?VE: Not exactly `“JD: Because I'd be surprised if either Daniel or Nadine had got themselves into trouble with the police.VE: [pause]

It's nothing like that, Mrs Davidson. And it's not about Nadine. It's about Daniel. Both were at your school, I believe?JD: That's right. Mrs Appleford was keen to move to Oxford, but it made sense to wait until Daniel sat his GCSEs.VE: What was your impression of him?JD: I wish we had more like him, if you really want to know. Hard-working, polite, well-mannered. A credit to the school.VE: How did he get on with his peers? Was there anyone he had trouble with?JD: Oh, nothing like that, he was very popular. Much more so than Nadine, who, between ourselves, can be rather touchy. Though she's the brighter of the two, if only she'd buckle down and apply herself. But you know what kids that age are like `“ any sort of academic aptitude is some sort of curse. Sport is different, of course `“VE: Was Daniel good at sport?JD: No. In fact, as far as I could tell he did everything he could to avoid PE in all its forms. But he wasn't particularly unusual in that. Changing rooms, showers, puberty `“ it can be a nerve`“racking combination for any teenager. No, sport definitely wasn't his thing, but he was hugely talented in other ways.VE: You mean the design stuff?JD: Yes. He was exceptionally good at art from Year Seven on. My colleague in the art department said Danny was the most gifted student she'd seen in over ten years.VE: So studying fashion was a natural progression?JD: [laughs]

Absolutely `“ he had his heart set on that long before he chose his GCSEs. You may laugh, but I genuinely thought we might have the next Alexander McQueen on our hands.* * *