Page 97 of Little Children

Kim frowned, recalling her record. ‘But she recently did time for…’

‘Yeah because she said no to Roy. She found the strength to refuse him, and that night she was hauled in on possession charges. She’s bloody terrified, and she warned me to watch out. Pippa reckons he’s capable of just about anything.’

‘Jesus,’ she said, rubbing her forehead. The cesspool through which they were wading was now right up to her knees. ‘Even more reason why you should have made sure he had nothing to use against you.’

‘It’s not even that that’s bothering me. I know I’ve done nothing wrong, and I’ll fight that to the death. It’s the fact that I feel like I have all the pieces of the puzzle to nail him, and I just can’t get them in the right order.’

‘Stop beating yourself up about that. From what you’ve told me, you only have enough to get him suspended on full pay pending an enquiry. That could take months, meaning anyone with the power to speak against him is in danger. He has to believe he’s free and clear until we have what we need to bury him properly.’

‘And how do you propose we’re going to do that?’ Bryant asked.

‘Let me think on it,’ she said as they pulled up outside the house of the Stevens family.

Kim allowed Bryant’s question to get in line with the others. She could only deal with so many problems at a time, and right now she had two missing boys who might still be alive.

The door opened to reveal Bobby Stevens, whose expression instantly darkened.

‘I thought we made it clear that you’re not welcome.’

‘I think you’ll change your mind when you hear what we have to say.’

‘There’s nothing you?—’

‘Let them in,’ Kevin said, appearing from nowhere.

Only now, seeing them side by side, did Kim realise how the teenager towered over his stepdad.

Before Bobby could stop him, Kevin had ripped the door from his grip and thrown it open.

Kim strode in and headed straight for the kitchen.

‘We have news,’ she said, hoping Shirley was going to want to hear what they had to say immediately.

‘One minute,’ she said, shepherding the last of her young brood across the hall into the lounge.

Kim didn’t know if she was genuinely trying to protect young ears or playing for time.

‘I’m staying,’ Kevin said, taking a seat at the table.

Shirley nodded her agreement as she dried her hands on a tea towel.

‘Lewis was definitely abducted,’ Kim stated, watching them closely.

They all looked to each other in surprise. Kim was unsure if they were surprised at the news or surprised that she had the news.

‘We have the video if you want to see it,’ Kim offered.

Shirley shook her head, Bobby looked to the ground and Kevin glowered at both of them.

The truth was staring her in the face.

‘You all knew,’ Kim said in disbelief.

No one argued with her.

‘It’ll do him good,’ Bobby said, folding his arms. ‘Little shit is always fighting anyway – might as well make a bit of money from it. When he comes back?—’

‘If he comes back,’ Kim snapped, unable to believe what she was hearing.