Ducie
Page 56
Chapter 55. Spot the difference
PC Kevin was surprised to see Kate sitting in the waiting room looking relatively calm and unflustered. He had expected her to either be raising hell and spouting her sob story about the nasty police officers to anyone that would listen, or to simply be gone; nowhere to be seen; done a runner; scampered off back to whatever hole she normally spent her days in, possibly with a police cell escapee in-tow. But no…. there she sat in the waiting room, casually reading a leaflet that carried the headline, “Lovers’ tift or domestic violence….Would you spot the difference?”, as if she were waiting for a routine dentist check-up.
- Where is he?
On reflection, Kevin would have picked a less bullish opener.
- Excuse me?
- Your friend…. He’s not in his cell. Where is he?
Kate’s wide-mouthed expression was as much confusion as it was shock; but all genuine.
- What do you mean he’s not in his cell?
- Look, whatever your game is, lady, you’ll end up getting yourself into trouble as well. This isn’t worth your bother, believe me! Now where is he?
Kate gestured towards herself incredulously, as if to indicate that she’d been here the whole time.
- Maybe one of your power-mad cronies took him somewhere. Or maybe he went to the toilet?
- The cell door was locked!
Kate laughed, but it wasn’t out of amusement.
- And you’re saying what exactly? That I’ve got the key and I busted him out? And then I thought I’d come and sit here and read a few pamphlets to celebrate?
Kevin realised how stupid it sounded and had no logical response. He strode towards the front desk.
- Becky….that scrawny, little runt we took in a couple of hours back….
Front desk girl consulted her computer screen, a few key taps apparently giving her the information she needed.
- Trundle?
- Yeah, that’s him. Has he been out here?
- Not since you took him in, no.
- And she’s been sat there since we brought her through?
Kevin gestured towards Kate, like she was just an irritating piece of a jigsaw he couldn’t quite put together.
- Erm, yeah…she hasn’t moved.
Front desk girl would have loved the opportunity to incriminate Kate, but she couldn’t see a reason to lie right now.
As he turned back to Kate, Kevin for the second time tonight didn’t see the person he’d expected to see. Just a chair with a domestic violence promotional leaflet on it. Becky gestured towards the exit that Kate had ran through. Kevin knew that there was no chase to be had here. It was pointless!
- What the bleeding hell’s going on in this place tonight?