All the Rage

* * *Jayne Ayre @NotthatJaneEyre 15.07#Oxford folk, does anyone know anything about something happening on Cherwell Drive? There's a bunch of police cars parked up there.Alicia Monroe @Monroe51098 15.09Replying to @NotthatJaneEyreI live on Thirlmere Road `“ just saw a couple of officers talking to people on doorsteps on Windermere Avenue #OxfordMariza Fernandes @Brazilia2012 15.11Replying to @NotthatJaneEyre @Monroe51098They have called here also `“ they are asking about a girl. I think she is missing #OxfordAlicia Monroe @Monroe51098 15.19Replying to @NotthatJaneEyre @Brazilia2012Oh no `“ not again. Her poor parents #missing #OxfordJayne Ayre @NotthatJaneEyre 15.22Replying to @Brazilia2012 @Monroe51098I've just checked @OxfordNewsOnline and @BBCMidlandsBreaking. Nothing yetOxford's News @OxfordNewsOnline 15.26Replying to @NotthatJaneEyre @Brazilia2012 @Monroe51098Do you know the girl's name and age?Mariza Fernandes @Brazilia2012 15.32Replying to @OxfordNewsOnline @NotthatJaneEyre @Monroe51098Sacha I think. I did not recognise her. In the picture she looks about 15Oxford's News @OxfordNewsOnline 15.39Replying to @NotthatJaneEyre @Brazilia2012 @Monroe51098BREAKING Reports coming in of a possible missing teenager in the Marston area of #Oxford `“ residents in the area believe it may be a 15yo girl. More on this as we get it* * *Adam Fawley
4 April 2018
15.45

I'm out at the car when my phone goes.

Harrison. Wanting an update.

`˜I've just been speaking to Isabel Parker, sir. She thinks Sasha Blake may have been meeting a boyfriend last night. Though I'm afraid she doesn't know anything about him `“ no name, address, nothing.'

I hear him sigh angrily. And I can't blame him.

`˜And the Blake girl's father `“ what about him?'

`˜We've been on to West Yorkshire Police. They're on their way round. We're still hoping that's where she went.'

`˜Pretty shitty father to do that and not let the mother know.'

`˜I know, sir. But there's evidently no love lost between them `“'

`˜That's no excuse,' he snaps.

If you believe the station rumour mill, Harrison's own divorce was pretty messy. Perhaps that explains it.

`˜Right now, we're just guessing, sir. It's possible Sasha told him she'd cleared it with her mother. She seems like a sensible girl, but we know she can be economical with the truth when it suits her.'

A snort of recognition at this. He has teenage kids; he knows the territory. `˜Well, either way, I hope to God that's where she is. And not just for her sake, either.'

For mine, too. That's what he means.

`˜So what next, Adam?'

`˜If we have no luck with Leeds I'll arrange a TV appeal with Mrs Blake.'

`˜Good. And make sure it's in time for the evening news.'

* * *

Graeme Scott is queuing to get a coffee when the head shows a man and woman into the crowded staffroom.

`˜Who the hell are they?' asks the teacher in front of him in a low voice. She only started this term `“ her first job out of training. Domestic science, or whatever they're supposed to call it now. He tried talking to her once, when she arrived, just to be friendly, but she gave him the brush-off. `˜It's not Ofsted, is it?'

Scott shakes his head. `˜No `“ they'd have given us notice. And in any case, those two don't look like school inspectors to me.'

But it's something serious all the same. That much is obvious, even before the head claps her hands and asks for silence.

`˜I'm sorry to disturb you all but I'm afraid I have some worrying news. Sasha Blake of Year Eleven didn't turn up for school today and it's now emerged that she hasn't been seen since last night and isn't answering her phone. This is Detective Sergeant Gislingham and Detective Constable Everett. They'll want to speak to Sasha's friends and teachers, so please can you do everything you can to help them, and to support Sasha's year group at this difficult time. Needless to say, we want to avoid any sort of panic, so it's important we all keep calm. Keep calm and carry on, as they say.'

Graeme Scott suppresses a grimace. How bloody clichГ©d can you get.

The head turns to the man standing next to her. `˜Would you like to say anything, Sergeant?'

He's stocky, barely mid-height, thinning on top; a bit `˜jolly', Scott suspects. He's met that type before: classic short-man syndrome. As for the woman, she's positively dowdy. Flat shoes, hair in a mess. There's no excuse for that, he thinks, not in this day and age.

`˜Just to echo what the head said,' says the man, glancing round the room. `˜We don't want to cause unnecessary alarm, but it's important we gather as much information as we can. And if any of the female pupils would prefer to talk to a woman, then DC Everett is on hand. That's it, really.'

The bell sounds now, clanging like an air-raid siren, and the staff start to gather their things. There's the usual sense of too much to do and too little time to do it in. But there's an unease now, a disquiet, which is not usual at all.

And I didn't even get a bloody coffee, thinks Scott as he shoulders his bag. The two police officers are standing by the door, apparently casual. Scott makes sure not to catch their eye.

* * *

Telephone interview with Charlie Higgins, driver, Oxford Bus Company

4 April 2018, 4.15 p.m.

On the call, DC A. Baxter

AB: Thanks for calling back, Mr Higgins. You got the message, I assume?CH: It's about last night, right?AB: Specifically the bus that left Summertown at approximately 9.45. I believe you don't have CCTV in that vehicle?CH: No, 'fraid not. What is it you're after?AB: I'm going to text you some photos. Can you tell me if you recognize any of the people in them?[muffled sounds in the background, then Higgins returns to the phone]CH: I do remember a big bunch of kids on that run. Some of 'em were foreign. And a lot of them were pissed, even though they didn't look much more than fifteen, half of 'em. But kids these days `“AB: So it got rowdy `“ is that what you're saying?CH: Not exactly rowdy `“ it was mostly girls. But loud. Definitely loud.AB: Are you sure you don't recognize any of the girls in the photo?CH: I definitely recognize the one with the pink stuff in her hair. Yeah, she was the one who asked me the time. It was when we was just getting into Headington.AB: Do you remember the exact time?CH: Five past ten? That's right. It was deffo her.AB: But you don't recognize any of the others?CH: Sorry, no. These kids, they all look the bloody same, don't they?AB: You've been very helpful, Mr Higgins. And if anything else comes back to you, please get in touch straight away.CH: You didn't say `“ why are you asking about all this?AB: One of those girls has gone missing. And the last time anyone saw her was on your bus.CH: Bloody hell. Makes you think, doesn't it.AB: Yes, Mr Higgins, it certainly does.* * *