Page 106 of Little Children

‘That’s what they’re masquerading as on the dark web. Vile enough for people to find who know what they’re looking for, but not gonna raise as much attention as dog fighting,’ he explained before turning his full attention back to the screen.

At a loss as to what to do next, Bryant decided to put the kettle on. The guv would probably appreciate a cuppa before heading off to wherever they were going next.

He grabbed Penn’s mug as he headed out the door.

He filled the kettle and stared at it, still trying to make sense of what they’d been told by Richard Wade.

A hair, one single blonde hair, that he was in no doubt would belong to Justin Holmes. If he were to believe the worst of Moss, then everything would make sense: the impromptu visit to the boyfriend, the unnecessary trip back to the morgue. He wouldn’t be the first officer to plant evidence to secure an early result, but Bryant sure hoped he’d be the last.

As with everything else, he had no proof. It was circumstantial. Damn that seedy bastard to hell, Bryant thought, throwing Penn’s empty mug into the sink.

‘Hey, bud, we’re up,’ Roy called from the doorway. His voice was full of urgency, and his eyes were alight.

‘Got a jumper over at the supermarket. He’s on the roof, and there’s no one else here. Boss said to take you.’

‘Okay, let me just tell?—’

‘I told ’em already. Now come on – we haven’t got much time.’

Bryant put down the kettle and followed the man out the door.

Sixty-Seven

Kim acknowledged the deflation she felt as she headed back down to the squad room.

Without intending to, the chief had made her feel as though they’d achieved absolutely nothing, yet her head was full of the information they’d uncovered and put together.

‘Okay, folks, pack up,’ she said, closing the door behind her.

‘What?’ Penn said, and Stacey looked equally shocked.

‘The chief is standing us down. We’re a distraction and?—’

‘She said that?’ Stacey asked.

‘Pretty much. She accepts we’ve been of assistance with the missing boys, but we’ll call Red to come in for a handover and then we’ll be on our way.’

‘We really gonna leave this case?’ Penn asked, horrified. An expression mirrored on Stacey’s face.

‘Not a chance,’ Kim said, picturing Josh’s body. ‘We’re not leaving the case; we just can’t work it from here.’

‘What about Moss?’ Stacey asked. ‘We just gonna leave him to terrorise the public?’

‘Absolutely not, but I need Woody’s guidance on how we handle it from here. I can give him the whole story without compromising him as it’s not his team.’

They nodded their understanding.

‘Has Bryant gone for the world’s longest piss, or has he started heading home without us?’ she asked, looking around.

‘He went to make coffee,’ Penn said, checking his watch. ‘A good ten minutes ago actually.’

‘I just passed the kitchen and he wasn’t there,’ Kim said, feeling a pang of unease. None of them knew the station well enough or would be presumptuous enough to just wander around without authorisation.

‘Roy was here,’ Stacey offered. ‘I saw him on the phone, and then he ran out of here. Haven’t seen either of them since.’

‘Penn, go check the toilets. Stace, check with dispatch to see if they gave him an urgent call.’

They both spurred into action as she took out her mobile phone.