Page 62 of Child's Play

‘Please don’t do that, sir,’ Mr Kapoor said, smiling sadly. ‘From that first night, you’ve treated me with respect. We stood over Dev’s body together,’ he said, glancing at the spot where he’d lain. ‘You explained even then that you might not find the person responsible without any CCTV, but I sensed in you the passion to do your best. You’ve always been fair and honest, please don’t give me police-speak now.’

Penn nodded and took a deep breath. ‘Mr Kapoor, we are checking to make sure we got the right man.’

‘Thank you.’

‘I can understand how that must make you feel. You’re angry at me and us as you have every right…’

‘I am angry at the person who took my son from me. I am angry at the person who robbed my wife of her first-born. I am angry at the person who has caused my young daughters to face grief, fear and mistrust earlier than they should. I was told repeatedly by the police to improve my security, and I didn’t listen to you or your colleagues and I paid a high price. I have no one to blame for that but myself.’

Penn suddenly felt sick to his stomach.

‘Mr Kapoor, I want you to know that we will do everything we can to get this straightened out.’

‘I know you will, sir,’ he said, as another customer entered the shop.

Penn nodded his goodbye and left the premises, feeling even shittier than when he’d walked in.

Forty-Two

‘You sure I can come in?’ Bryant asked, as he pulled the car to a stop.

‘You a vampire who can’t enter without an invitation?’ she asked.

‘You know why I’m asking.’

‘Yep, but this isn’t a personal visit.’

‘Great, I love this guy.’

Kim rolled her eyes. She had another guy at home who got just as excited when she brought him to this address.

‘Hey, Ted,’ she said, as her old counsellor opened the front door.

‘Hello, Kim, and I see you brought reinforcements.’

Kim smiled as she stepped into the house. ‘He’s got a bit of a man crush on you,’ she said, walking past him.

‘She’s right, I do,’ Bryant said, following her into the house.

‘Well, thank you. And I’m guessing this must be work related,’ Ted observed. ‘As this is not even close to the unreasonable hour you call if it’s a personal visit.’

She nodded her acknowledgment.

He tipped his head. ‘So, are we just going to pretend that the last time you were here you didn’t snap my head off and then storm out?’

‘Absolutely,’ she said. This was nothing new to them. It was how she’d grown up.

‘She did?’ Bryant asked, as they all stood in the small kitchen.

‘Indeed, Bryant, when I told her I didn’t think she should be working that copycat case.’

‘Ah,’ Bryant said.

‘Our visit did not end well.’

‘So, I’m cannon fodder?’ Bryant asked.

‘Oh yeah,’ she said, taking a custard cream from the biscuit barrel.