Page 5 of Child's Play

‘So, you saw and heard nothing and called the police straight away?’ she asked.

He nodded.

‘Then what did you do?’

Guilt flashed across his face. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Did you touch her at all?’

He hesitated before shaking his head.

‘Are you sure, Eric?’ she pushed. They had to know.

‘I’m sorry, but I didn’t check. I mean I just couldn’t…’

Kim understood the source of his guilt and evasion. He felt bad because he hadn’t had the courage to approach her and see if she was still alive.

‘It’s okay. I don’t think there’s much you could have done to help her.’

He offered her a grateful smile as Bryant approached.

‘Okay, Eric, we’ll be in touch if we need anything further, and if you remember anything more give us a call.’

He nodded his understanding as she met the gaze of the officer still standing to the side of him. ‘Get someone to take him home.’

‘Will do, Marm.’

‘Anything?’ she asked, turning to her colleague.

‘Mitch is here and is discussing with Keats the best way to remove her from the swing.’

‘Do we have her name?’

‘Belinda Evans, sixty-one years of age, lives in Wombourne and drives a BMW5Series. Less than two years old.’

She raised an eyebrow. His last few minutes had been much more productive than hers.

‘Car keys in her handbag, along with her purse, untouched, her driving licence, a small make-up bag, a pen, glasses and a pack of breath mints. No mobile phone.’

‘And her car is?’

‘Parked correctly about fifty yards from the park gates. Locked and with no evidence of foul play.’

‘Good work, Bryant,’ she said, heading towards the entrance to the park. ‘Most of that information is utterly useless, but you’ve identified one piece of information that is incredibly helpful and relevant.’

‘Which is?’

‘That Belinda Evans came to the park of her own accord.’

Three

Kim entered the squad room and immediately realised that something was not right. It had nothing to do with the fact that when she’d left the room at 7.30a.m. to brief Woody on the events of the previous evening, the office had been empty and was now full. No, it wasn’t that. She’d expected that to be the case. The change was more subtle than that.

Ah, she got it.

‘Bryant, why is Betty on your desk?’

Not once had he been awarded the prized plant for his work efforts.