Bye Bye Baby

4

Outside, I called Dutton on my Airwave handset. I hated those bloody clunky things and would have much rather used a mobile phone.

"There's no sign of any activity round here," I said. Still no patrol car, no uniforms talking to neighbours in a doorway. "What's going on?"

"They're spreading out," Dutton said. "Kid's still missing."

"What do you want us to do?"

"School's closed and everybody's gone home for the day. Bruce's teacher, name of…" there was a pause "… Mrs Grace Lennox, lives about five minutes away. She hasn't been interviewed yet. Pay her a visit."

He gave me the address. I mentioned the boyfriend and Dutton said he'd get Uniform to go round to check out Mr Les Green and make sure Bruce wasn't there. "By the way," I said, "did anybody get a photo of the kid?"

"Why wouldn't they?"

I told him what Mrs Wilson had said.

"She must be upset," he said. "Uniform got a photo no problem. I'll see if I can get you a copy."

"And what about the car crash? Her husband's death?"

"What about it?"

"You didn't tell me," I said.

"I didn't? Must have slipped my mind."

And before I could reply he was gone.