Hampstead? Sean asked, remembering the area or at least several of its pubs that were frequently used by detectives attending residential courses at the Metropolitan Police Training Centre in nearby Hendon.
The boy apparently went missing overnight while his mother and sister were asleep. No signs of forced entry anywhere in the house, so it appears the boy has vanished into thin air. Quite the mystery. Right up your street dont you think?
And the father? Sean asked.
Away on business, I believe. The local CID are at the address with the family eagerly awaiting your arrival.
Has the house been searched yet? Sean enquired. Sounds like the kids probably still in there somewhere, hiding.
The houses been searched by the mother, the local uniform officers and the local CID. No trace of the boy, which is why Ive decided to assign the investigation to you.
I see, Sean said, realizing that nothing he could say would deter Addis.
If you find the boy hiding somewhere the others failed to look then all well and good, Addis told him. But if you dont He let it hang for a while before speaking again. I understand you had some success a few years ago working undercover to infiltrate a paedophile ring known as the Network?
I did, Sean admitted, slightly fazed that Addis had taken the time to research him so thoroughly.
Then youll have good understanding of how these people work.
And you think a paedophile is involved here?
That would be my guess, Addis answered. And these people arent council estate scum, Sean before you start accusing the parents of being involved.
I was only thinking its a little too soon to make any assumptions. If the family are wealthy there may be a ransom demand.
Well, Addis said, allowing Sean his moment of contradiction, Ill leave that for you to discover. All the details I have are in the file. Addiss eyes indicated the folder on the desk. Oh, and while I have you, Ive decided your team needs a new name to help you stand out from the crowd. As of now you will be known as the Special Investigations Unit. Should keep your troops happy: theres nothing detectives seem to like more than a bit of elitism or at least thats what Ive always found. Predominantly youll still be investigating murders, but every now and then something else may come along. Sean didnt reply, his eyes never leaving Addis. Ill leave you to get on with it. A quick result would be much appreciated: we could do with some positive press. If you need anything just pop in and see me Im never far away, just a few floors above. Report to me when you find anything, or Superintendent Featherstone if Im not around. Until later, then. Addis turned to leave.
Mr Addis, Sean called after him, making the Assistant Commissioner stop and turn, his face slightly perplexed, as if having his progress interrupted was a novel and unwelcome experience.
Something wrong, Inspector?
No. Its just that I was brought up on a council estate, Sean told him. I thought you should know.
Addis grinned and nodded, impossible to read as he turned his back on Sean and headed for the exit, almost colliding with Sally as she barrelled into the room, unable to see where she was going due to the size of the box she was carrying. Addis jumped out of the way and cleared his throat to make her aware of his presence.
Sally peeped over the top of her box at the sullen-faced Assistant Commissioner and groaned inwardly. Shit, she spurted, immediately realizing her mistake and hurrying to correct it: I mean, fuck Sorry, sir sorry.
Addis glared at her and exited quickly into the corridor, leaving the bemused Sally scanning the room for Sean, eventually spotting him still standing in his new office. She dumped her box on the nearest desk and made for Sean who was already heading towards her, the file on the missing boy in his hand.
Pompous twat, she offered, with a jerk of the head towards the door Addis had just departed through. Registering that Sean was advancing in that direction, she added, Going somewhere, guvnor?
Addis glared at her and exited quickly into the corridor, leaving the bemused Sally scanning the room for Sean, eventually spotting him still standing in his new office. She dumped her box on the nearest desk and made for Sean who was already heading towards her, the file on the missing boy in his hand.
Pompous twat, she offered, with a jerk of the head towards the door Addis had just departed through. Registering that Sean was advancing in that direction, she added, Going somewhere, guvnor?
Yes, Sean told her. And so are you.
Donnelly sat in the passenger seat while DC Paulo Zukov drove them through the increasingly dense traffic around Parliament Square, Donnelly shaking his head at the thought of having to use public transport to beat the traffic. The Yard, he moaned out loud. Why did it have to be the Yard? Theyre selling the damn thing as soon as they can find a buyer. Well no sooner get sorted than theyll have us on the move again. Bloody waste of time. Where to next, for Christs sake Belgravia?
Look on the bright side, Zukov told him, we can tell everyone were detectives from New Scotland Yard now. Better than saying youre from Peckham. And the traffics not that bad considering. Youve just got to get used to it.
Donnelly looked him up and down with unveiled contempt. Why dont you just drive the car, son. Let me do the talking and the thinking, eh. Youve just got to get used to it sometimes I wonder how you ever got into the CID. Let anyone in these days, I suppose. Ill tell you this for nothing after a few weeks at the Yard youll be wishing you were back at Peckham. Where do you live Purley, isnt it? How you gonna get in from there every day?
Train, Zukov answered precisely, too suspicious of Donnellys reason for asking to say more.
Oh well, let me know how that works out for you hanging around on a freezing platform before being squeezed into a carriage with standing-room only, rubbing shoulders with the great unwashed every morning and evening. And how you gonna get home when we dont finish until three in the morning? Theres no local uniform units to bum a lift from at the Yard.
Ill take a job car.
Oh aye. You and everyone else. Only one problem we have a lot more people than we have cars. Better get used to sleeping on the floor, son.
Ill figure something out, Zukov replied, promising himself he wouldnt speak again.
You will, will you? Donnelly condescended. Well, Ill look forward to seeing that. And while were about it, remember to watch your back at all times. You make the same sort of mistake you made on the Gibran case and I wont be able to cover your arse, not at the Yard. Everythings changed for us now: senior management have got us right where they want us under their noses. And Im pretty sure why.
The ensuing silence and air of mystery was too much for Zukov. Why? he asked. Why do they want us right under their noses?
That, son, is for me to know and for you not to find out, Donnelly told him. Now get us out of this traffic and to the Yard. Im bursting for a piss.
Sean and Sally pulled up outside 7 Courthope Road on the edges of Hampstead Heath and headed for the smart four-storey Georgian house that four-year-old George Bridgeman had apparently gone missing from, although Sean would assume nothing until he proved it was so. The house reminded him of other houses hed visited, other investigations. Other victims whose faces flashed through his mind like images from a rapid-fire projector. He forced the distraction away, needing to concentrate on the job in front of him, his mind already clouded with thoughts of moving the office and all the admin and logistical headaches that would bring, as well as recurring day-and-night dreams about Thomas Keller and the women hed killed. If he was to think the way he needed to think he had to clear his mind.
He paused at the foot of the steps just as Sally was about to ring the doorbell, making her hesitate while he looked up and down the street. He watched the last of the leaves falling from the trees and floating to the ground, some briefly resting on the two lines of cars parked on either side of the road before the bitter breeze blew them away, all the time waiting to see something in his minds eye. But nothing came no hint of what had happened, no feeling about what sort of person might have taken the boy, if anyone even had. He cursed Addis for putting thoughts of paedophiles and the Network in his mind pre-wiring his train of thought before he had a chance to look around the scene. He gazed up and down the road once more, but still he saw nothing.
Something wrong? Sally asked. Sean didnt answer. She repeated the question a little louder.
What? No, he replied. I was just thinking it must have been freezing outside last night.
So?
Nothing, he answered, moving next to her, stretching then crouching as he examined the four locks on the front door, all of which appeared high quality and well fitted. The report said all four locks were still on when the nanny arrived in the morning and that the mother checked all the windows on the house and the back door again, all locked and secure. So how the hell did someone get in, grab the boy and get out, leaving the place all locked up, without being heard or seen?
He didnt, Sally explained. Thats not possible. The boy must be hiding in the house somewhere, too afraid to come out now his jokes gone too far. Well have a good look around, find him, talk his parents into not killing him and then get back to our unpacking.
But hes only four, Sean argued.
So?
When my kids were four they wouldnt have stayed hidden this long. They might now, but not back then. Its too long.
So you do think someone has taken him?
Sean stepped back from the door, looking the house up and down before once again peering in both directions along the affluent, leafy road. I dont know, he eventually confessed, but Ive got a bad feeling about this.
Dont tell me that, Sally almost begged him, rolling her eyes back into her skull. Every time you say that we end up in it up to our necks. We havent even got the office up and running the last thing we need now is a child abduction or worse. A few days from now well be ready and willing, but not yet.