Against the Clock by John Carson (best mobile ebook reader TXT) 📕

‘All the bus drivers and teachers were vetted and had alibis,’ Muckle said. ‘The drivers were on the buses.’

Vern snapped her fingers and they all looked at her. ‘Look what just happened. That young tech clapped Sparky and she didn’t even notice Muckle. Now I know this is a different environment, but hear me out. What if there was somebody out there who was waiting for the kids? We said that Alice might have been targeted rather than just snatched, so what’s one thing that would’ve made her come to him?’

‘A dog,’ Muckle said.

‘Correct. What if it wasn’t only somebody she knew, but he lured her away with a dog? It happens all the time with perverts trying to lure kids away. She would have seen him, maybe come over to speak to him and clap his dog. It was somebody she trusted. Somebody she knew. He could have told her that he would drive her home, that she wouldn’t be in trouble. Maybe it was a puppy, and she got to hold him or walk him while he held the umbrella. A golf umbrella strategically placed would have hidden his face.’

‘Christ, I think you’ve got something there,’ Stewart said. ‘Barclay, get in touch with Dunbar and tell him what we think. Get the parents to make a list of people their daughter would have trusted.’

‘I’ll get right on it, sir.’

‘Right. Good. Let’s get out of here before that fucking wee window-licking bastard annoys me again.’

Eleven

It was late afternoon by the time they were finished. Harry called the team and told them they would meet at ten the next morning.

‘Nobody wants to work at the weekend, but we need to get cracking on this,’ Harry told Dunbar.

‘Aye, that’s fine, Harry. I’ll have a conference call with Tom Barclay, see if we have anything. You having a drink tonight?’

‘I’d love to, mate, but I promised Alex I’d take her out for a meal. Maybe I could persuade her to come over to the hotel bar later. I’m assuming you’re staying at the usual place, round the corner from me?’

‘We are indeed. Robbie even broke his piggybank so he could buy us a drink.’

‘As much as I’d like to, I’m celibate now.’

‘Away and don’t talk pish. That means you’ve stopped shagging. Well, I suppose that does fit, but it doesn’t mean you can’t put your hand in your pocket, and I don’t mean for you to play pocket billiards again.’

‘What do you mean, again?’

Harry laughed as he drove them back down to the hotel. He knew this was a hell of a job sometimes; you had to laugh or else the thought of young kids being murdered would throw you over the edge.

‘I’ll let you know about having a wee scoop later, pal,’ he said as Dunbar and Evans got out of the car.

‘We’ll be there, Harry. We’ll get a bite to eat first. Catch you later, pal.’

Harry drove round the corner to his flat at Comely Bank, hoping that Chance being there had put Alex in a better mood. Her hormones had been summoning the firing squad recently, and no matter what Harry did, there was always something to criticise. When he had told her he was going to pick up Lillian, her face could have shattered a mirror.

In the flat, he could hear Chance talking, and the sound of his son’s voice made him smile. He opened the living room door and saw Chance standing at the window near the small dining table there, talking on the phone. He turned round when he saw his father enter the room and cut the call.

‘Hello, Chance. How you doing, son?’ Harry wanted to ask who was on the phone, but he didn’t want to sound like his old man.

‘Great, Dad. That was Katie on the phone. I know we said we could get a pint, but would you mind if it was during the week? I haven’t seen her in a wee while and –’

Harry held up a hand. ‘It’s fine, son. I was young and in love once.’

‘Notice how he says once,’ Alex said, waddling into the room holding two cups of coffee.

‘I meant I was and still am,’ Harry said, feeling his cheeks burn.

Chance took one of the cups and sat at the table.

‘How’s Katie doing?’ Harry asked, eager to change the subject of whether he did or did not still love his wife. He felt there was no real answer here. If he said he didn’t, then he would be the biggest bastard who’d ever walked the earth. If he said he did, she would accuse him of lying. So it was best to start talking about something else. That usually worked.

‘She’s doing fine now. Her mum passing suddenly hit her hard,’ Chance said. ‘She got left the house in her mum’s will.’

‘That was a shame. But is Katie still enjoying being a police officer?’

‘Are you kidding? She wants to be chief constable. She loves it.’

‘That’s good,’ Alex said. ‘She’ll go far. Just like you will.’

‘Eh, listen, if it’s all the same to you, would you mind if I spent a couple of nights at Katie’s house? She managed to get the week off too. I know I said I would stay here all week…’

‘It’s fine, son,’ Harry said.

‘He was young and in love once, remember? He knows what it’s like,’ Alex added.

‘Thanks. Both of you,’ said Chance. ‘I’m going to shower, then get changed. We’re going to go out for a meal, and then, well, you know. Go back to her place for a movie.’

‘Go. Enjoy yourself,’ Harry said. And for fuck’s sake, don’t get her pregnant.

‘Cheers. But just give me a shout if you need me for anything.’

‘Where are we going for dinner?’ Harry asked Alex as Chance left the room, taking his coffee with him.

‘I’m not bothered. Really. I was sick this afternoon and I have little appetite. Why don’t you see what your team members are doing?’

‘I don’t go out with them