by Andy Crowson
Chapter 22: Daniel
Josef hadn't known what to say for the past two hours except to wait. Bentworth had made calls every fifteen minutes and Mr. Martin just sat as if in a trance. Josef and Whitlock had retired to the kitchen with Mrs. Martin, the living room was getting hot and stuffy.
There was a yelling from outside the front door, it was opened and the uniformed officer came running into the hall shouting.
"It's Daniel it's Daniel."
Suddenly everyone was in the hall, Josef saw enough to know that Daniel had been returned unharmed and then backed away into the kitchen again. Whitlock came in a second later.
"That's bloody brilliant isn't it," she said, grinning widely.
"Yup," Josef smiled himself.
"I wonder what the boy has to tell us," Whitlock said.
"Me too, but I sort of feel like an intruder right now if you know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do," she said.
"Coffee?" Josef said, flicking the kettle on. He could hear Daniel crying from the hallway.
When Josef was sat at the table with a fresh coffee Whitlock was still grinning. He looked at her and smiled too. She had a beautiful smile, it's a shame he couldn't ask her again, but then again maybe he would. Hell she could only turn him down; again.
"What're ya' thinkin'?" she asked.
"Just that we might get some answers now," he lied.
The kitchen door opened and Bentworth came in.
"What I thought we could do is get Daniel to tell us everything through once, then he could come in tomorrow morning and make a statement. That way we can leave them alone for tonight."
"Sounds good to me," Josef said.
"In the living room," Bentworth beckoned.
When they got to the living room there was standing room only. Josef pulled the digital recorder from his pocket and put it on the floor as near to the sofa as he could. Daniel was sat on the sofa, his parents either side of him.
"Daniel. Can you tell us everything you remember? Take your time, just tell us everything you can," Bentworth said. The boy looked at his mother.
His account took about half an hour and no one interrupted him. When he'd finished Bentworth said,
"Can you think of anything else? Is there nothing else you can remember about the man who took you or where he kept you?" The boy shook his head.
"Is it okay if we ask you some questions?" he continued. The boy looked at his Mum again.
"S'ppose," he said.
"Daniel, when the man tricked you into the van you got a look at him without a mask. Close your eyes, can you remember his face?"
"A bit," the boy said.
"Do you think you could help us make a picture of him?" Bentworth asked.
"I 'fink so," Daniel answered.
"And you didn't see any other boys there?" Bentworth encouraged.
"I thought I heard a boy crying one time," Daniel said.
"But you didn't see any other boys?"
"No."
Bentworth smiled at Daniel.
"Well done," he said and patted the boy on the knee.
"Anyone else have any important questions?" Bentworth asked the room.
"Yeah," Mason said. "Did you hear the man talking to anyone else, on the phone or in the house where he kept you? Do you think he was doing this alone or was there more of them?"
"I 'fink it was just him, nobody else brought me food and he said I was gonna be left alone but not to worry." Daniel said. Mason nodded. Bentworth looked at him.
"That was it," Mason said.
"Josef," Bentworth offered.
"Just a couple of questions. Daniel do you remember when you saw him by the front gate?" The boy nodded. "Do you know what happened to your schoolbag?"
Daniel though about it.
"I put it in the garden so I could help the man with the TV," he said.
"What about your keys?" Josef asked.
"They were in my coat pocket."
"You were wearing your coat?" Daniel nodded in affirmation.
"Where is it?" Josef asked.
"He kept it," Daniel said. "He gave me these clothes to put on."
"They're not your clothes?" Josef said in surprise.
"No, he gave me these new ones," Daniel said.
"New ones?" Josef asked. The jogging suit did look new, it had the creases in the sleeves and legs from being folded. Daniel nodded.
"They had the labels in," he said.
Josef stood thinking for a moment.
"What did he call you when he talked to you?"
"Daniel."
"And he was nice to you?"
"Yeah."
Josef looked at Bentworth and shrugged.
"Nothing else for now," he said.
"I've got a question," Whitlock said. Bentworth nodded. Whitlock pulled some pictures from her bag.
"Daniel, have you ever seen either of these boys before?" She handed Daniel the pictures. He looked at them.
"Don't 'fink so," he said.
"Thank you Daniel, it was worth a try," she said. Daniel gave the photos back.
"I think we should go now and leave you in peace," Bentworth said.
As they prepared to leave Mr. Martin stood.
"Can we thank you all very much," he said. "I hope you catch this guy soon. If there's anythin' we can do, you just ask alright."
Bentworth's phone rang and cut Mr. Martin off.
"Sorry," Bentworth said looking apologetic. "I'll take it outside." Josef was beginning to understand how Bentworth had become CDI so young. A clever, well educated man with a genuine politeness and an understanding of politics.
"Just doing our job," Mason said, "we'll catch him for you Daniel, you did great." He ruffled the boy's hair smiling.
Whitlock tapped Josef on the shoulder, he turned.
"Don't you think that was a bit strange, just letting the boy go with no message or anything?" she whispered.
"I think the boy has a message he doesn't know he's got. I'm not sure what it is though. Something is bugging me and I can't put my finger on it."
They moved closer to the window and stood looking out at Bentworth, both whispering.
"What he says makes sense about K working alone. If he left them on their own," Whitlock said.
"Mmmm"
"And another thing," she continued, "making the boys shower and stuff. Doesn't sound right."
"Mmmm."
"What's up?"
"Look at Bentworth," Josef said pointing. Bentworth was throwing his arm in the air and pointing and shouting. He looked angry.
"What's up with him?" Whitlock said.
"Can't you guess?" Josef said in realization and turned for the door.
They were both almost running when they passed through the gate into the street. They stopped dead when Bentworth put up his hand in a demand for silence.
"Well of course," he said, loudly and angrily. "We're on our way there now." Bentworth pressed a button on his phone and stared at it for a second.
"Aaarrrghhh you fucking prick," he yelled when he was sure the call was terminated.
"Sir?" Josef asked. Bentworth looked up. Mason and Ward were in the street behind them. So too was Mr. Martin.
"Fucking mother fucker just grabbed another one not two minutes from here. Other side of the rec."
"Bastard," Mason fumed. Josef was already running for his car.