Ah, so Chapter 6. I hope everyone is enjoying it so far, and updates will be coming your way more frequently. Please read and review, because your comments help me write, and I just love this! Satisfies my Smithy love! ;) x
Reflections – Chapter 6
PC Stamp placed the packet of crisps and can of Cola down on the table in front of Kieran and sat down, offering the boy a placatory smile. The gesture was returned with an appeased grin as the little boy opened his packet of crisps and began to chew feverishly; like he hadn't eaten in a long time. Now that Tony thought about it, he did look rather pale and thin. Maybe he ought to be asking some questions…
"So Kieran, what brings a little boy like you to a big police station like this?" At that, Kieran stopped munching and looked at Tony.
"I'm not a little boy." He suddenly stood up and flexed his arms in a 'look at my muscles' way that he had seen the wrestlers do on TV. "I'm a BIG boy. Look!" He continued to flex his arms.
"Well let me see here." Tony leaned forward in the chair and pretended to put on glasses. He gasped. "Well knock me down! You ARE a big boy! My mistake, how could I miss those massive muscles?" Kieran grinned at Tony, before sitting down again and smiling at him, almost bursting with pride.
"Told you." After this revelation, he returned to munching on his crisps, before opening his can of juice and taking a drink. Tony smiled at him and sat back in the chair, taking a deep breath. He was pleased that the young boy was in a good mood again, but that didn't detract from what he'd witnessed earlier that day. Worse still, Tony was now faced with the task of questioning him about the incident, to try and get a grip on what Kieran knew. It was a task he certainly wasn't looking forward to, but it had to be done. He returned to sitting normally and looked at Kieran, sighing slightly.
"Well then Kieran, I was wondering what a big boy like you would want to do here? You're not in trouble are you? Because you don't look like trouble to me, but with those big muscles….."
Kieran looked at him with solemn eyes that showed he was telling the truth.
"No police officer Stamp." He shook his head. Tony smiled.
"It's ok. You can call me Tony."
Kieran nodded.
"Ok. To-ny." It was like he was trying the name out for size. Luckily, it fit. "Tony, I'm not in trouble. Honest." He put his juice down. "I was playing outside today, and I went past some garages. But the garages were weird, and one of them smelled bad. There was some stuff coming out of it on the ground, and I lifted the door." He indicated his arms. "I'm strong, so it was easy. It opened and….."
Suddenly, he was very quiet and subdued again, looking down at the table. Tony ruffled his hair.
"It's ok. I know what happened when you opened the door. You found the lady didn't you?"
At first Kieran didn't answer, but then slowly he nodded his head.
"She didn't look well, so I was scared. But somebody came along and told me to come out. She was a nice lady, and she phoned you."
Tony nodded. They had interviewed the older woman – Nora Callard – at the scene, but she didn't have anything to add. She had merely found Kieran in the garage – she didn't know anything else.
"So you didn't stay in the garage. You came out like the lady told you to. Is that what happened?"
The child nodded, clearly wishing that he didn't have to talk about it. Sadly, Tony couldn't spare him the pain
"Where was your mum while you were playing outside?"
The question made the little boy even more sad looking, and Tony suddenly dreaded the reply he was going to be faced with.
"She's not here. She's in heaven." He looked up at Tony, and his eyes were flooded with a sorrow and anguish that no child should ever experience. It made for a horrible acknowledgement.
"Is she? I'm sorry." He paused a minute before continuing. "So who do you live with?"
Kieran suddenly lifted something out of his pocket and gave it to Tony. When he picked it up and looked properly he could see that it was a photograph, of a young boy (Kieran) grinning inanely at the camera beside a man pulling an equally silly face. The man was white, with thick brown tousled hair and deep brown eyes. He bore a striking resemblance to Kieran, even down to the shape of the mouth as they both grinned. Tony deduced that he must be the father.
"Daddy. His name's Kevin. He works as a fireman in the city." Tony smiled at Kieran as he handed him back the photograph. The little boy picked it up in his small hands and put it back in his pocket.
"That's a nice picture. Your dad seems like a nice man. Where is he just now Kieran?"
"He'll be at work." He said it with such childhood innocence.
"Work? But then who's looking after you?" Tony was surprised. The man in the photo didn't look like the kinda guy to leave his kid in on their own unsupervised.
"Ashleigh. She's my big sister." He pulled a face as if he had just smelled something foul. "She's a girl." This last bit was said with distaste, and it made Tony smile.
"So Ashleigh was looking after you for a little while was she? Why did she let you go outside on your own?"
"She didn't. She doesn't know. I asked her if I could play at the park but she said no because she was going to the shop with her friend."
Tony frowned. What an irresponsible sister!
"Do you know what her friend's name is?"
Kieran nodded, proud of himself.
"Yep! Her name's Chloe. She's a girl too." He pulled the same face as before. Tony was amazed at the little guy. Even after everything he had seen, he was still able to be happy and innocent. The little fella was a comedian.
"Ok. Tell me, does Ashleigh have a phone?"
Kieran nodded.
"Uh-huh. Daddy always says she's glued to it, and it makes me laugh." He grinned again, and Tony grinned too. It was infectious!
"Ok Kieran. I'll be 2 seconds." He stood up and moved over to the side, near the rack for the trays. He watched as Kieran once again picked up his crisps and munched the remainder of the packet's contents. That gave him a minute or two to contact Smithy. He opted for his phone, instead of his radio.
"Sir." He spoke once Smithy picked up.
"Tony. What's happening is everything OK with Kieran?"
"Yes sir. Except well, I was asking him about today. I asked him why he was outside on his own."
Smithy coughed before speaking again. "And what did he say?"
Tony continued to watch the little boy drink his juice and play with the cord on the hood of his jacket.
"He said that his sister Ashleigh had told him not to go out, because she was going shopping with her friend Chloe. So once she had left he had gone out to play."
Over the other end of the phone Smithy was incredulous.
"So she left her little brother in on his own? Where are his parents?"
"The dad works as a fireman in the city. His name is Kevin. His mum is dead."
"Ok. So the dad is working, and he asks his daughter to watch her brother. Right, we need to find his big sister and bring her here to collect him. Can you get a mobile number for her?"
"Possibly. Kieran says she has a phone, but wouldn't I be better contacting the father? I can find his work number easier than her mobile."
Smithy had to agree. "Yeah, good thinking. Call the local fire stations and find out which one Kevin Hayes works for, then get him to come and collect his son. Maybe he can get in touch with Ashleigh."
"Sure thing sir." He hung up the phone and walked back to the table. Kieran grinned at him.
"You ok PC Tony?"
Tony grinned back at him.
"I'm fine. Hey, I need to find your dad so that he can take you home. How would you like to come with me to the bit of the station where I work? Hmm? See us cops in action!"
Kieran was grinning from ear to ear, thrilled to pieces at this prospect.
"Yay! Let's go!"
"Thanks again PC Stamp, and thank you to you too Inspector Smith. It was good of you to look after Kieran this afternoon." There stood Kevin Hayes, holding his son's hand and his other arm wrapped around his 14 year old daughter Ashleigh.
"That's alright Mr. Hayes; we were just concerned that Kieran was alright. And…" Smithy turned to Ashleigh who was sporting a bright red face. Her long brown curls cascaded down her front and back, and she wore a long pink coat with a white glittery top and baby blue jeans. "Ashleigh, I hope you won't be going out and leaving your brother on his own again?"
She shook her head.
"No. Sorry Inspector." She turned to look at her dad. "Sorry dad. It won't happen again."
He smiled kindly at her, and hugged her in tight.
"That's ok. We can talk about it at home. I'm just glad you're both alright."
Smithy and Tony smiled at the family. They were clearly the glue that held each other together, and it was sweet to see.
"I'm glad everything's ok Mr. Hayes." Tony smiled, and Kieran grinned back.
"Well, we'd best be off. Let's go kids." Kevin and his two children set off out of the station, turning around briefly to smile and say:
"Goodbye Officers. Thanks again." Kieran waved at them "Bye Inspector Smithy! Bye Tony!"
They both waved back, each one grinning at Kieran's enthusiasm.
Once the family had gone, Smithy and Tony turned to look at each other.
"I'm glad Kieran's going to be ok. Mostly, that's down to you Tony. You clearly engaged well with him."
Tony nodded, remembering Kieran's infectious laughter.
"Thanks sir. He's a good kid. I just hope we find this guy before more bodies turn up. I'd hate to think that some other child'll come across what Kieran did."
Smithy nodded solemnly.
"I agree. Thanks again for looking after him. I had to deal with the young woman who came into reception earlier."
Tony perked up. "Ah, was it something important?"
"Yeah. Why don't you come back to my office, we'll grab a drink, and I'll explain. It's been a crap day."
End of Chapter 6.