Page 73 of First Blood

Stacey smiled widely as she finally cracked the code into Hayley’s mobile phone. She had needed to visit some rather questionable websites to do it, which she’d done on her own phone, but she was in.

‘Yessss,’ she said, punching the air and then bringing her arm back down quickly as a figure appeared in the doorway.

Stacey felt the heat flood her cheeks but the uniformed officer was too busy looking around, as though checking he was in the right place.

‘CID, mate,’ she said, although there was a brass plate stating as much on the door.

A frisson of pride had surged through her as she’d said it.

‘PC Chalmers,’ he said, stepping over the threshold and into the squad room as though it was a fresh new world or alternate universe.

He looked at the photos on the wall. He swallowed and looked away.

Stacey guessed he was early twenties. His blonde hair appeared to be held down with some sort of lotion.

‘And may I help you?’ she asked, hoping to prompt him into his reason for coming.

‘Saw the briefing. The one about the little girl.’

‘Mia Smart?’ she asked, hopefully.

He nodded and the phone records on her desk were momentarily forgotten.

‘You know the little girl?’

He shook his head.

Her hopes began to plummet.

‘So, you’re here…’

‘I don’t know her but I can definitely tell you where she is.’

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Kim felt the relief flood through her as Stacey spoke.

‘So, you’re saying that Hayley voluntarily gave Mia up to the state temporarily when going to prison that last time?’

‘Apparently, she has no one she could leave the child with. Mia was handed over three times altogether.’

‘But she’s been out of prison for a month. Why didn’t she get Mia back?’ Kim asked.

‘Not sure how easy it is to keep putting your child in and out of care, boss,’ Stacey said. ‘Maybe Child Services weren’t letting her go quite so easily until Hayley could prove she was back on her feet.’

‘And this police officer?’

‘Was there when Mia was taken to a foster home. Some concern for her safety so the Social Worker requested an escort.’

‘So, you have…’

‘The address of the foster home right here.’

‘Stacey, bloody good…’

‘To be fair, boss, the officer came to me but I’m hoping to have something more for yer later.’

Intelligent and self-effacing. Kim liked that. Kim ended the call and checked her watch.