Page 6 of Stolen Ones

She couldn’t even call him a suspect or a witness. At best he was a member of the public who wanted to assist them with their enquiries.

She kept that thought in her head as she re-entered the room.

‘So, you appear to be psychic, Mr Harte. Either that or you had some involvement in the abduction of a little girl earlier today.’

He shrugged and offered that half-smile she wanted to smack from his face.

‘Would you like to share where she is?’ Kim asked, fixing him with a hard stare.

‘I’m more than happy to tell you everything I know. On my terms.’

‘And what are they?’ Kim asked, trying to keep her tone in check. She still had no clue as to what she was dealing with. A lucky prankster or a kidnapper and murderer.

‘I’ll let you know later, once you get back.’

‘From where?’ Kim asked.

‘Well, I’d imagine you need to be present at the scene of the crime. Take some statements, question the witnesses, do police things. You can go,’ he said dismissively.

Kim kept the rage inside her mouth at his superior attitude. Damn it. That was exactly where she needed to be.

‘Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,’ he said, leaning back in his seat. ‘I’m sure you can keep an eye on me,’ he added, nodding towards the CCTV camera nestled in the corner.

‘What the hell are you playing at, Mr Harte?’ she asked, already feeling the pull towards the site of the disappearance.

He linked his hands behind his head. ‘I’ll be perfectly fine while you’re gone. If Jack could just get me a strong cup of tea, one sugar.’

Kim rarely, if ever, felt at a complete loss with how to handle someone but right now she had to err on the side of caution. If he did have information on the disappearance of either Melody Jones or the girl she’d just heard about, she had to tread carefully.

She pushed the chair back.

‘Mr Harte, I’m leaving now. If you know something about this abduction and you leave, I will find you and charge you with withholding evidence. If you have no wish to help the investigation or if you hinder it, I will ensure that you are punished to the full extent of the law.’

‘Dramatic words, Inspector, but totally unnecessary. I’ll be here when you get back. I’m looking forward to it.’

Kim offered him one last look before leaving with her fists buried deeply in her pockets.

He hadn’t said enough of anything to warrant an arrest. If the PACE regulations listed being a superior, annoying knob as an offence, he’d already be in a cell but, unfortunately, she didn’t have that power.

‘Fire up that computer,’ Kim said, pointing to the PC that occupied the spare desk in the squad room.

Three pairs of eyes questioned her. She guessed they were all wondering why she wasn’t already on her way to Netherton.

Bryant stood. ‘Guv, do you not think we should be on our way to—’

‘I’m aware of where we need to be,’ she snapped, nodding towards Stacey to do what she’d asked.

Stacey rose from her own desk and logged in to the computer.

‘Interview room one,’ she said.

A few keystrokes later she was looking at the man himself.

‘Meet Steven Harte,’ Kim said to the rest of her team, who all moved forward to take a closer look. ‘Our latest weirdo who might not be so weird after all.’

‘You think he knows something about Melody Jones?’ Penn asked.

‘Says he does and also alluded to knowing about our missing girl today.’