Yay, on to Chapter 4 now! It's so hard trying to focus sometimes, but this one really ought to be quite good. I gotta lengthen my chapters – I just noticed how short they are! Not good. Anyways, read on and hope you enjoy! Tah 3 x

Chapter 4 – Tell Me A Story

PC Kirsty Knight watched from the cordon as Inspector Smith tore strips out of DI Manson. She knew it was down to her – what with Jasmine running off – and she had felt like she should go over and say something. However, once Ben, Roger and a few other officers had been dispatched to search for Jasmine, she really had to stay by the cordon, or else her head would be firmly placed in the noose. She also knew just how much of a field day Sgt. Stone would have, berating her for this further mistake – one in a long line that she seemed to be making these days. It was a mystery to her, but for whatever reason she seemed to have really rubbed Stone up the wrong way, and no matter what she did nothing seemed to make a difference. He was forever breathing down her neck and watching everything she did, probably desperately waiting until she tripped up, which would give him the chance to belittle her even more. It was like he got a kick out of chipping away at her confidence bit-by-bit until she would have nothing left to give.

A few minutes later, she noticed Inspector Smith making his way over to her, and so she averted her gaze and looked nonchalantly across the street, perfecting the act of doing her job.

Or so she thought.

"PC Knight, do I have something on my face?"

She frowned.

"Sir?" She felt really bad for Jasmine running off, but surely the Inspector would lay off of her. After all, no one else was going to.

"I just wondered, considering you've been staring so intently at me for quite a while now. I know I'm good looking, but there's limits." He smiled at her, and for once she felt as if she just might have someone she could rely on.

"Sorry Sir. And, sorry about Jasmine…"

But Smithy held up a placating hand.

"Forget it. You were busy doing what I asked you to do. Forget DI Manson's criticism, he's probably taking something out on you that he shouldn't. I want you to stay here by the cordon and keep a watch on the neighbours okay? I'll send DC Dasari to look after the mother whilst I help look for Jasmine. So just stay here."

Without another word Smithy headed off, leaving a slightly worried and irritated Kirsty behind.

Neil could see Smithy talking to PC Knight at the cordon, and he couldn't help but wonder what he was saying to her. It would be extremely unprofessional if he was to badmouth him to a PC, but he didn't see Smithy as that sort. If he was being honest with himself, he'd have to admit that he felt guilty about arguing with the Inspector. After all, they'd always gotten on before this and – although Neil was going through such a bad time at the minute – it was out of character for the two to disagree professionally. Plus, something Smithy said had really hit home. Nobody knew where Neil was these days. He was so preoccupied with looking after Jack – and he had been insistent that his colleagues back at the station didn't find out – that he'd let his duties and commitment slip, and that was wrong. Neil just had to admit that he had allowed his stressful private life to get the better of him, and that just wouldn't do. So when he saw Smithy re-approaching him, he decided to offer the apology that he owed.

"Smithy."

Initially, Smithy had been headed to speak to Grace, but this had to be said.

"Smithy, I owe you an apology for my outburst just then." Smithy prepared to cut him off, but Neil pressed on. "You're right, people don't know where I've been. I've been so busy lately – so caught up in my own circumstances that I've not considered how that would affect my colleagues. So long as we find Jasmine safe and secure, I think I should just let it go."

At this, Smithy stood stock still for a second, taking in the apology. It sounded genuine, and brought back Smithy's initial concerns of what was keeping Neil away from the station lately? However, he knew that wasn't his business, and so instead he offered a reconciliatory smile.

"Fair enough. I was out of order too, and I do apologise that my officer let the young girl run off. I'm actually going to help look for her just now, which…" He now turned to face Grace who was standing with the DI. "DC Dasari, I need you to go and sit with Jasmine's mother whilst I go and look for her. I'd ask PC Knight, only she's still manning the cordon, what with most of my officers searching for Jasmine or attending door-to-doors."

Grace nodded and excused herself, happy to be able to do something useful.

Smithy had one more thing to say to Neil before heading off on the search.

"Neil…I don't know what it is that's gone on with you lately, but I was out of order questioning you. I jus hope everything's alright."

Neil nodded what he hoped would appear a sincere answer. It seemed to do the job, as Smithy then excused himself and headed across the road to begin helping his officers search the neighbouring streets for Jasmine. As Neil made the decision to go with Grace to meet the mum, he really hoped he could shake himself out of the state he was in. People were starting to notice.

The rain began to pour down until it became a steady wash across London. Hidden in a dark corner of the climbing frame, Jasmine huddled even further under the shelter to keep from getting wet. If she turned around, she would see scurries of officers surrounding her house, each busying about with their jobs to do. Instead, she chose to keep still and face ahead, because that way she could pretend that this wasn't her life falling apart; she was just an ordinary girl enjoying a day at the park. She knew that – by now – people would be looking for her, but if anyone was listening they would help her remain unfound, because to go back, to face all that….

Smithy cursed the rain that began falling all around him as he scoured the neighbouring street for Jasmine. He didn't want to shout her name, not entirely sure why, but he had a feeling that she wasn't all too keen on being found. That said, he wasn't risking being unprepared if he came across the culprit having snatched the girl. So, armed with his ASP, Smithy searched garden upon garden, nook upon cranny until eventually he had to admit she wasn't here. However, just as he prepared to head back to the cordon, he noticed up ahead. A play park….

Jasmine wiped the tears from her eyes, which she liked to convince herself was the rain on her face. It was all the pain from looking at the picture. Her sister, three weeks ago, was playing in her room with her stuffed donkey. She'd demanded all of Jasmine's attention – which she was more than happy to give – and together they'd laughed and messed around for the best part of an hour. As they were tidying up, Rose had squealed in delight as she found her cuddly 'Arthur the sheepdog' which she thought she'd lost. All at once she'd asked Jasmine to take a picture of her and Arthur, and so here she was now. Nothing more than a picture, smiling back at her sister with the widest grin she could muster. It broke Jasmine's heart to see her, knowing that it could be the only way she'd ever see that sweet innocent face again. Putting the phone back in her pocket, she thought of him, and what would happen if she found out that he was involved. She could see his evil sneering face laughing at her, mocking her! She wanted to scream, but that would attract the officers' attention, and she'd rather avoid that altogether. But he was still there, taunting her, daring her to scream. Well she wouldn't, but she'd find a way to rip that smile from his foul mouth. Could she do it? Could she kill a man?

He walked quietly, determined not to alert her to his presence. If he could just keep her calm, she might – just might – give him the time of day. Thankfully, his intuition about the play park had been right, because he could now see the huddled, shivering figure of a young person hiding inside the climbing frame. Their hood was up, which meant he couldn't be 100% certain it was Jasmine, but reason told him that there couldn't be many teenagers hiding in climbing frames in the pouring rain in the area. So, calm and cautious, he approached it, before finally speaking up.

"Jasmine?"

Silence. But his suspicions were confirmed when he saw a slight movement in the figure.

"Jasmine, I'm Inspector Smith. I'm a police officer. Are you alright?"

Still nothing.

"Listen, I just want to know that you're okay. Your mum will be really worried about you."

He was shocked by the answer he got.

"Yeah right! Worried about me? Don't kid yourself!"

Why would Jasmine question her mum?

"Jasmine? Can you come out?"

She remained still for a few minutes, before slowly coming out. When she turned to face Smithy, he was saddened by her appearance. Long brown hair fell flatly across her face with the rain, her eyes thick with make-up and yet the bags underneath clearly un-disguised. She looked like she'd had the life kicked out of her.

"Are you alright Jasmine?"

She didn't indicate either way. Instead, she spoke in a flat, monotonous voice.

"Just don't take me home."

End of Chapter 4