Page 43 of Little Children

‘Course I fucking did, but it went nowhere. They said my bruises were from a physical detainment and that I played up. I didn’t at first, but after the second smack I got pretty fucking annoyed.’

‘Didn’t your solicitor fight the case for you?’

He shook his head in wonder. ‘I ain’t sure whether you’re from the West Midlands or the planet Zog. It was my word against theirs, and CID don’t wear bodycams. I got nothing more to say. I’m wasting my breath. Don’t know why you’re asking but nothing will get done. You lot protect your own. We don’t stand a fucking chance.’

‘Are you prepared to give me names?’

As she had no access to the local system, she was unable to find out any other way without raising suspicion.

‘Sure. It was Butler and Walsh.’

‘You mean Moss and Butler?’ Kim asked, frowning. This had to be a mistake.

‘No, I mean DI Red Butler and DS Carly Walsh. That bitch has got a fucking donkey kick on her. Now if you’re done, piss off.’

Kim hid her surprise as the man re-entered his home and slammed the door.

She turned back towards the car and moved right into the path of Steve Ashworth. Her heart jumped into her mouth as he grinned at her.

‘Well, well, well, fancy seeing you here, Inspector.’

‘Naff off,’ she said, trying to get round him.

He stepped right in front of her.

‘Hey, pal,’ Bryant said, moving closer.

Kim’s expression warned him off.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ she growled.

‘I go where the story goes, and right now, you’re here in sunny Blackpool.’

‘You followed us?’ she asked incredulously.

‘Well, when we last chatted I saw you put an overnight bag into your colleague’s car and I thought, oh that looks interesting. Never realised we’d be coming quite so far, but hey, who doesn’t like a few days in Blackpool?’

Kim was wracking her brain for any law he’d broken. There was nothing.

‘Now, I’m guessing that the local force needs a bit of help, given they keep losing young boys. Why they chose you is beyond me.’

‘You don’t think the missing boys is a story worth covering?’ she asked.

‘There’s plenty of people on that one, yet there’s no one on you. Surprising but I’ll take it. Now, would you like to comment on the name I mentioned yesterday?’

‘I’m good, thanks,’ she said, moving around him.

‘Do you know where Amber Rose is now?’ Ashworth asked.

Kim ignored him as she waited for Bryant to unlock the car.

‘Do you keep in touch with her at all? I’d love to talk to her too.’

Kim continued to ignore him as she slid into the passenger seat.

She moved to close the door, but he leaned down into her space.

‘Get away from?—’