Page 40 of Little Children

‘Well, I should have been able to handle it myself, shouldn’t I? I’ve never needed my brother to fight my battles, but I just couldn’t react the way I would if some guy was bothering me at the pub.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because I wasn’t sure if I was misreading the signs. Whether he was just checking on me.’

‘He wasn’t,’ Kim said. ‘And I bet you I can find a hundred victims of crime who don’t look like you who have received no such aftercare.’

Jasmine didn’t hide her surprise at Kim’s comments.

‘Our confidentiality agreement works both ways,’ Kim said. ‘But you didn’t imagine it. His actions were inappropriate. Your instinct knew it, and you were right to ask your brother to intervene. Can I ask why you didn’t trust your gut and report him?’

‘He’s the police. What if I’d read it wrong? My complaint wouldn’t have gone anywhere, and what if I’d needed to call for help again? I don’t know how he would have handled rejection. No matter how well dressed you?—’

‘Sorry, Roy Moss?’ Kim asked, frowning at the description.

‘Oh no,’ Jasmine said, shaking her head. ‘The man that was a nuisance to me was Detective Inspector Butler.’

Twenty-Two

Stanley Park was located one and a half miles from the centre of Blackpool and seemed to be doing a roaring trade on this crisp, bright October day. The swings, climbing frames and roundabouts were full of kids of all ages wrapped up in hats and scarves.

Except for one red-faced kid who looked bigger than the others and was throwing rocks at the metal bin.

Looking around, Penn guessed that was the boy he was here to see and that his mum was the woman on the bench handing a pack of sweets to a younger child.

The younger child ran back towards the seesaw as he approached.

‘Mrs Davis?’ he asked.

She nodded.

When asked if there was any child in particular Lewis had been close to, his form teacher had mentioned a boy named Danny Davis. Being the helpful woman she was, Brenda had made a call to the boy’s mother to see if he could meet up with them for a chat.

‘Thanks for seeing me,’ he said, taking a seat. He took out his ID automatically.

‘I believe you,’ she said without looking at it. ‘We’re between meal deals anyway.’

‘Meal deals?’

‘We had breakfast at Morrisons where the kids ate for free, and tea will be at Asda where I can get them a hot meal for a pound. In between, if it’s not raining, we come here. Not everyone can afford to spend time in town even if they live here.’

Penn couldn’t imagine walking around all the shops, arcades and attractions with two kids and no money in your pocket.

‘Danny, I assume,’ he said, nodding towards the bored-looking kid thirty feet away.

‘Yeah, just follow the scowl.’

‘May I?’ Penn asked.

She nodded for him to continue while she focussed on the younger one, who had now moved to the climbing frame.

Penn approached and sat down on the grass close to the boy.

‘You Danny?’ he asked, offering his hand.

The boy ignored it and picked up another stone.

‘Did your mum tell you why I wanted a chat?’