It seemed nearly all the village wanted to turn out to help look for the boys. Although it was accepted their behaviour at Mistletoe Farm was less than desirable no one believed the boys meant their prank to have the effect it did. In fact because of the volume of people who turned out, together with the additional police constables drafted in, it was thought the school would not be big enough to organise the search and consequently the village hall was opened up to accommodate everyone.
At the Hall, Nick Rowan and his Sergeant were talking to the families of the boys in a side room.
"I need to know," Jack Buckley said tensely. "The lads - they're not going to be in any trouble for what happened at Mistletoe Farm?"
"I will be having a word with them sir," Blaketon said. "But they're not old enough for any police action to be taken. Any official police action that is."
"But in any case, they've not done anything wrong other than mischief?" Graham Bennett asked. "I mean, don't get me wrong Sergeant, I'm not making light of what they did, but you couldn't say its murder or owt like that."
Nick and his Sergeant exchanged glances; it was Blaketon who spoke. "No sir, you're right, we couldn't. The boys couldn't have known about Mrs Butters and her history of heart trouble. And by the sounds of it they're punishing themselves in any case." He paused. "Right now, we need to find them and get them home safe and sound. That's my main priority!"
The boys had found their hiding place back in the summer quite by chance when out exploring.
About three miles from Aidensfield had stood a large house which had fallen into disrepair. By about 1940 it had been little more than a ruin when a fire had destroyed what was left. The site had been cleared and the grounds in which it stood became overgrown but an interesting hide out for local children.
What had been overlooked was that the house had had outside cellars. They were reached by a hatch in the ground. When the house was standing this hatch would have been surrounded by iron railings and clearly marked, now the railings had long gone, and the only thing left was the hatch leading to the cellars below.
Alan Bennett had found them by chance; playing hide and seek in the woods he had been running full pelt when his boot caught on something and he fell full length. Winded, he sat up and saw his boot had caught on the iron ring in the hatch set in the ground. Intrigued he had tried to pull it up but was unable to do so.
When he found Colin and George he alerted them to his discovery and with the three of them yanking at the hatch and pulling away the grass which had grown around it, they managed to get it open. There were quite steep steps leading down into the vault below, and they realised they needed torches to explore further.
A quick trip home got what they needed then back again to make further exploration. The steps into the vault were slimy and slippy but they somehow got down them. However the exploration proved rather disappointing- all that was in the vault was some empty boxes and although the lads played in the vault for a day or two the novelty soon wore off and the hatch was closed and forgotten about.
Until last night when they frantically needed a "hide out" and the vault came to mind. They had decided to flee convinced the police were going to work out their "guilt" and come after them. And the vault seemed the perfect place to hide out.
It was a miracle given their panic and the darkness, but somehow they all got themselves down into the vault (including their bikes) without anyone bouncing down the hard stone steps.
Now irrespective of the huge hunt taking place for them they sat huddled in the vault around an orange box on which burned a candle. No daylight got into the vault. In a corner were their provisions and some blankets. Their bikes were in another corner. They had some books and magazines and torches.
Alan said after a bit, "What do we do now like?"
"Stay here for a bit," George replied. "Until we know the bobbies aren't going to chuck t'book at us."
"How will we know," asked Colin practically.
George shrugged gloomily
"We won't have to stay here all us lives will we?" asked Alan fearfully.
"Don't talk daft!" George snapped. "You didn't have to come you know!"
"Well I weren't going to just wait for t'bobbies to knock were I?"
"It'll be reet," said Colin practically. "We never touched the old woman did we? We couldn't have known she'd keel over like that could we?"
"Yeah but we don't know the bobbies'll think like that do we!" George said fearfully. "And we had to run away because the bobbies are bound to find out what we did ."
Alan said quietly, "Would we go in a proper prison do you think?"
The boys looked at each other anxiously. "Nah," said Colin but he wasn't quite sure. "Nah, they have prisons for kids don't they?"
"I don't want to go in any prison," Alan muttered.
The boys looked at each other seeing their fears in each other's faces.
Out on the moor in the early afternoon Nick Rowan was leaning against one of the police cars with Phil Bellamy. They were studying a map whch they'd spread out on the roof of the car. To one side was the party of volunteers they had been given to lead out on the moor. The problem was they had searched their particular area and nothing had been found. They were waiting for further orders.
Maggie Bolton and Jo Weston were in their party, now they detached themselves from the other volunteers and came over. "What's the next plan?" Maggie called over.
"Back to the village hall by the sounds of it," Nick said. "Just waitng for Sergeant Blaketon to confirm."
"Any one else had any luck?" Maggie asked.
Nick shook his head. "No. The search teams have nearly all searched their areas now. No sign."
"Its like they've gone to earth somewhere," Jo said wonderingly not guessing the truth of her words. She sighed. "Poor kids."
Nick looked at her sharply. "They're not exactly innocent in all this!" he pointed out.
"No. But they must be terrified Nick. They couldn't have known what they did would cause Mrs Butters to literally drop dead in front of them!" Jo exclaimed.
"They deserve to have the book thrown at them!" Nick spoke angrily. "Sorry Jo, but I've not one bit of sympathy for any of them!"
Maggie and Phil exchanged glances.
Jo said, "Right. Well, that's your view Nick - but I'm entitled to mine! Of course the boys did a bad thing but I rather think they've punished themselves very well!"
He looked at her then said "Right. Look I'm sorry Jo, forget it. I'm just tired, its been a tough day."
"Its been a long day for all of us!" she retorted.
Perhaps it was as well that Sergeant Blaketon's car came into view then and pulled up alongside the stationary police vehicle. Glad of being to move away from the sudden tension in the air, Phil moved over to the driver's side of his Sergeant's car. Blaketon didn't get out of the car but issued orders crisply.
"Ventress is on his way over and he'll see this lot back to Aidensfield," he said. "Bellamy, Rowan, I want you in that car and to do a search of the farms in the outer circle, the farms we haven't searched on foot. As the lads had bikes we have to consider they might have covered some distance. Use the car, drive round to the farms and check any outlying barns or shelters you come across en route. Got that map there? Right, here, see. You're focusing on this quarter here, I've got another patrol searching this one."
"Sarge."
"Get on it as we haven't got long before it starts to get dark and I don't want those kids out here tonight!"
As Nick folded up the large map he looked over at Jo who was standing apart from the other volunteers. He bit his lip then moved over to her. "I'm sorry," he said.
"You don't have to apologise," she said. "We don't have to agree all the time."
"No, but maybe I was a bit hasty," he said. "I'm worried, its been a long day but its no excuse."
"Is that all it is Nick?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"You were really annoyed when I told you my parents had cancelled this weekend."
He sighed, looking over at where Phil was now in the car, looking over impatiently at him, clearly wanting to get started.
"Look Jo, we'll talk later all right. I need to go."
Maggie came to stand with Jo as Nick and Phil drove off. She put her hand on Jo's arm. "Are you all right?" she asked her.
"Yes. Honestly Maggie." Jo gave Maggie a weak smile. "I just think Nick and I need to sort a few things out that's all. I am wondering though if its just not meant to be. There seems to be so much against us and lets be honest I don't think my parents are ever going to accept he and I."
Up at the hideout at Top Ghyll, Len, still huddled by the range, looked at Brian sourly as he picked up the car keys. "Right," he said "off to see Micky and I'll come back with what you need all right?"
Len glared at him. "You had better do!" he snapped.
Brian nodded. "It'll be fine honest," he said. "I'll try not to be too long."
