Tracey was so relieved to have Moira with her at the police station. The older woman was highly regarded by the Partners of the solicitors firm, ran the office with a rod of iron and kept a gimlet eye on the office staff. But she was a Godsend today thought Tracey.
They speedily were processed past the policeman on the desk, and then into a side room. From there after a short wait a Sergeant Holloway came in having driven down from Whitby. After speaking to them again in depth and taking a statement and placing the rag doll in an evidence bag, he went away again. Some time after that he returned with another policeman - his boss, DI Browne.
Moira took a breath, taking in the situation at once. "You really do think this child is the one you are looking for don't you?" she asked.
"We can't say at the moment Miss Parsons," replied Browne. "But we are taking this very seriously. There are some steps we need to take."
"What if its not like?" Tracey asked. "I'll have caused a whole load of bother for nothing."
"Not at all," said Browne. "Even if this little girl is not the little girl we are looking for it does sound like there may be some welfare concerns we should look into. You have done the right thing, Miss Doyle." He glanced at Moira. "Will you be looking out for her?"
Moira nodded firmly. "Yes and tonight Tracey, after work, you shall come home with me. I won't let you be on your own tonight."
"That's really kind of you Moira," Tracey sniffed, wiping her eyes. "You've been lovely, I can't thank you enough."
"That's quite all right." Moira looked at the Inspector. "You will let us know if -"
"Of course. If it is Katie Rowan, we owe you a great deal, especially you Tracey," said the Inspector, "and if it isn't you've still helped a child who needs it."
Browne and Holloway drove over to the Police House in Aidensfield. Sergeant Blaketon came out to them as the car pulled up.
"Nick knows you're coming over sir - I've told him there've been one or two developments but not much else." Blaketon looked at Holloway who was holding the evidence bag with the doll in it. "What do you think, sir?"
Browne said, "I've got a gut feeling this child may be Katie. I've put plain clothes officers on watching the flats making sure this woman doesn't make any movement before we get over there. If this doll is Katie's and Nick can positively identify it as hers, then we're going in."
"I hope this is the breakthrough we've been waiting for," Blaketon said grimly. "Those two in there can't take much more."
Eileen was sitting at the kitchen table with Nick when they went in. Phil was stood anxiously by the window. The tension in the room was almost overwhelming.
"Right," Browne said, sitting at the table, and nodding to Holloway. "Nick, Mrs Reynolds, can you identify this is the doll which was taken with Katie?"
Holloway placed the evidence bag in the middle of the table. Both only had to glance briefly to nod.
"How are you so sure?" Browne asked gently.
Nick pointed to the neck of the doll. "Katie chewed it a lot - still does," he said, "and the stuffing began to come through. Eileen stitched it, there look."
"Also," said Eileen, "Katie picked up some scissors when my back was turned and cut the doll's hair, you can see, there."
Browne looked at Holloway and nodded. Holloway quietly went into the office of the Police House and shut the door so they wouldn't hear the calls he was making.
"If its bad news, sir, just tell us please," Nick said in a low, expressionless voice. "At least if we know something ...anything's better than this not knowing."
Phil had to look away. He found it almost overwhelming seeing the distress Nick was in.
"Today two women came into the Police Station at Scarborough," Browne said. "The younger woman reported the woman in the flat next to her - only lived there a couple of weeks or so - has suddenly got a child living with her who she said was her sister's." He paused. "The woman who came in, Tracey Doyle, found the doll in the communal hallway of the flats and guessed it belonged to the child but didn't have chance to give it back. A lady she works with, a Miss Parsons, thought the doll looked like the one Katie was holding in the press photograph so they came into us."
"So Katie's been found?" Eileen whispered tears of sheer relief rolling down her face. Nick put his hand on hers.
"Well, now we've identified this as Katie's doll," Browne said, "we can get over to the flat where this woman is living."
"I'm coming too sir," Nick said standing up.
Blaketon stepped forward. "I'm sorry lad, but you're not. Bellamy an' I, we'll stay wi' yer but we're going nowhere."
Nick sat down feeling suddenly exhausted and ran a hand over his eyes.
"Just a bit more patience lad," Browne said kindly. "Minute I know anything I'll get word to you. I promise." He glanced up as Holloway came back in from the office.
"Ready when you are sir," he said stolidly.
Browne and Holloway left taking the doll away, still in the evidence bag. Stunned by developments no one moved at first then Phil recovered himself a bit. "I'll get the kettle on," he said, "we'll wait this out together."
"Nick?" Eileen sounded terrified. "If it is Katie, in this flat, they will get her out won't they?"
Nick gave her hand a squeeze. "Just got to trust them Eileen," he said.
"I know it sounds hard keeping you here Nick," Blaketon said, "but you know its right. We can't let you get involved."
Nick nodded briefly, but it did not make it any easier.