"Did you notice anyone acting suspiciously when you headed off to the music store" Virgil shook his head,
"No, a-at least I don't think so…" Talbot smiled sadly at the despair in the young boy's voice,
"I'm going to need you think Virgil….Scott mentioned that there may have been a busker nearby?" Virgil's head shot up,
"Old Luke?"
"Is that his name?"
"Y-yeah, he was around the corner from the shopping mall, up against the wall by the film store. He's always there, I give him some money every time I go by….you don't think he did it do you?" Talbot glanced at his notes,
"He's just a person of interest. Did he seem unusually interested in your family?" Virgil shook his head,
"He never really interacted with anybody that much…I mean I got a friendly nod every time I went by but that was it!"
"He never showed any extra attention to John?"
"Never…" Talbot nodded, but remained unconvinced.
"What-what is John like?" Virgil appeared shocked by the question,
"What do you mean?"
"How does he react under pressure? Is he calm or is he liable to panic?" Virgil chuckled,
"John is the best under pressure. He's already smart, but when he's stressed, he just becomes that extra bit smarter…you should see him when it's the school's science fair on! He can make a first place project in less than two days if he has to!" Talbot smiled,
"You and him get on then?"
"We're the quieter of our brothers, although John beats me by a mile. We can sit in silence, painting or reading for hours. The rest don't really have the patience for it. I suppose we kind of bonded over that. Mind you, there are times even I can't sit still for as long as he can. He can spend hours reading or looking at the stars." Virgil glanced at the table, his eyes distant,
"I-I mean we tease him all the time, but it's all in good fun…but I can't help but worry that he doesn't see it that way. What if he dies and I never get the chance to tell him that I didn't mean any of it! That I'm proud that he's so smart!" Virgil buried his head in his hands and began to sob, "Oh god, Johnny!" Talbot felt a sympathetic twang for the young boy, it can't be easy for the small family.
"I'm sure that Johnny has never thought that you were serious. From what I've seen of this family, you all clearly love each other…and nothing will change that." Virgil wiped his eyes, and Talbot smiled,
"You okay now?" Virgil nodded,
"Good…you're free to leave Virgil" He nodded and made his way out, completely missing the thoughtful look on the sergeant's face.
…..
"Mr Tracy?" Jeff glanced up to see Detective Hanson holding out a phone, "There's a young lady on the phone, English accent, calls herself Penelope?" Jeff nodded and held out his hand,
"She's a friend of the family" Hanson nodded,
"Well everything checks out with her…I'll let you have a few minutes with her" The phone was handed over,
"Lady Penelope?"
"Jeff, O it's so good to hear from you! I heard everything, have they found everything yet?"
"No…they're still searching and interviewing everyone, but there's nothing…" Jeff felt tears streaming down his face, "…What if they're too late Penny?"
"Jeff, you can't think like that! John is a smart boy, he'll be fine…"
"I keep telling myself that….but he's so small! To imagine him all alone with some creep sends shivers up my spine."
"Don't think about it Jeff…think about how happy he'll be when he comes back to you. When you're all together again!" Jeff smiled at the thought,
"Thanks Penny…" Jeff glanced up and saw the Detective gesturing to his watch,
"I'll have to call you back Penny…" After she said goodbye, he hung up and handed the phone over to the Detective, who spotted Talbot coming out from the interview room,
"Find anything useful?" Talbot nodded,
"Virgil mentioned a busker called Old Luke. He said that he seemed harmless but is it possible that-"Talbot paused as he saw Hanson shake his head,
"We checked the security footage remember? The busker didn't move from his spot during the time that John was abducted…he didn't do it" Talbot sighed,
"So we're back at square one…"
"Not necessarily…" murmured Hanson, who glanced at a recent text he had received, "…Rhymer's just finished running basic background checks on our groups. Only five have prior arrests to their names, I've sent the list to the remaining officers who can conduct interviews. It includes two security guards, two shop owners and one shop assistant. I need you to continue interviewing the family, maybe they saw something…"
"I only have the two youngest and the Father left now…"
"Okay, interview the Father first and then I'll take him to the radio room. Maybe a plea from him will encourage the unsub to let John go, or at least help us find out who it is through watching their behaviour…"
"I'll get right on that sir"
…
"Earlier today, John Tracy, son of billionaire, ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy was abducted in this very mall that you see behind me…" the young reporter gestured behind her, "…local officials have closed the mall down and no-one is permitted to enter or leave." The man kept a cautious eye on the television screen as he walked towards his 'special room', checking that no mention was made of who he might be.
"Alright sweetie…" he murmured, as he entered the room, checking to make sure that the coast was clear, "…I've brought you some crisps. Salt and Vinegar okay with you…what am I saying of course it is, it's your favourite!" He took the gag out of the boy's mouth and gave him a quick sip of water,
"H-how do you know that?" asked the boy. The man laughed,
"O sweetie, I love your little jokes!" he opened the packet and tried to hand-feed the boy, but he pursued his lips together and turned his head away,
"Now, now, we don't have time for this nonsense dear. If you don't eat now, you won't get another chance before we get out of here!" Nothing. The man growled in frustration,
"Fine, you can starve then!" The crisps were thrown down and the gag reapplied before the boy could even squeak in protest. The man stormed out of the room, his anger so apparent that as he strode back into the main waiting area, people moved out of his way in shock.
"Hey, what's the matter?" asked a colleague in concern. The man took a deep breath in order to calm himself down,
"Nothing…stressed about this and I'm going through some…relationship issues" The colleague nodded in understanding,
"Fair enough. Don't keep wandering off all the time though, I think they're getting a bit suspicious mate…" The man nodded,
"No worries man…" he smirked, "…everything will be back to normal soon"
...
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