Page 14 of Little Children

‘He’s done it before?’ Kim asked.

‘Yeah, came back when his mate’s mum kicked him out. Just wait. He’ll be back soon.’

‘Has he ever been gone for ten days?’ Kim pressed.

‘No, but he’s getting older, more resourceful. He’s practically an adult.’

‘He’s twelve,’ Kim said unnecessarily. She was sure he knew the child’s age, but it was as though he needed reminding that Lewis was still a child.

‘You seen twelve-year-olds these days?’ he asked. ‘Trust me, they can survive.’

Kim noticed that his wife was neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his conviction the boy was in no danger. Instead, she was focussed on portioning out chicken nuggets and oven chips onto four plates.

Mr Stevens followed her gaze. ‘Food bill’s gone down a bit since he went.’

‘And you’re his stepfather?’

‘Yeah, known him since he was six, and he’s always been a little shit,’ Stevens said before heading back into the living room.

‘You share your husband’s opinion, Mrs Stevens?’ Kim asked as the woman reached across her to put the plates on the table.

‘I dunno. I don’t know what to think.’ She paused. ‘Kids… tea’s done,’ she called out.

The three that Kim had already seen came careering into the kitchen.

They paid no mind to her and Bryant while seating themselves and reaching for the condiments in the middle of the table.

One plate with a larger portion remained unclaimed on the countertop.

‘Come through,’ the woman said, leading them into the lounge, where she immediately began collecting up toys and straightening cushions.

Mr Stevens shifted so he could see past her to the television screen.

Both Kim and Bryant took a seat on the freshly cleared sofa. She caught the flash of irritation on Mr Stevens’s face. He’d clearly hoped they wouldn’t be staying long or that they would be confined to the other room.

‘Can you tell us what happened the last time you saw Lewis?’ Kim asked as Shirley Stevens took a seat.

Mr Stevens rolled his eyes and lit a cigarette. ‘We’ve been through this a hundred times.’

Mrs Stevens ignored him. ‘It was just like any other day. It was mayhem. Everybody wanted something different for tea. I hadn’t had a chance to do the shopping and?—’

‘Bloody hell, Shirl, tell the truth,’ Mr Stevens said, shaking his head.

At that point, the last of the children appeared. Kim guessed him to be around fifteen. He carried in the last plate from the kitchen, took a seat and glanced at the smoke circulating around his stepfather.

‘If you don’t like it, stay in the bloody kitchen, Kevin.’

Kevin put the tray on his lap and started to eat, while Bobby Stevens extinguished the cigarette anyway.

‘You’re saying that’s not how it was?’ Kim asked the man now sitting forward in his chair.

‘No. They were all being loud and annoying, and Lewis in particular was being a little shit.’

Shirley shot him a look. Kevin carried on eating his tea.

‘I’m not gonna lie just cos the kid has gone off in some big sulk. He was acting up, hitting stuff, and it was only two days after he got suspended.’

‘For what?’ Bryant asked.