Never Came Home by Vince Vogel

Author:Vince Vogel [Vogel, Vince]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-11T04:00:00+00:00

24

10 December 1995

Kevin Jarvis’s alibi checked out and he was free to leave. As for Harry, he pleaded guilty to sexual assault, soliciting sex from a minor, and a whole host of crimes against his sister, not holding back any details. It was the first step to a possible redemption—complete openness. For without ownership of the truth, we cannot get better.

Just as Jack had predicted, the fourteen-year-old was sent off for psychiatric assessment at a nearby center that specialized in adolescents who committed sexual crimes. It was sad to think that Harry would come of age inside the white-washed walls of an asylum, but it was the reality of the situation.

It was now two weeks before Christmas. Leads had gone as cold as next month’s turkey. They had nothing. Jack was sat at his desk in the Incident Room, gazing thoughtfully at Anna as she hunched over some paperwork. A desolation had crept into his thinking of late when regarding their affair. He had to admit he was developing feelings that went beyond sexual impulse, and it was from this that a terrible guilt emerged like smoke from fire, choking him.

“A penny for your thoughts,” Anna said.

Jack’s eyes came alive and snapping out of it, he said, “Just worried about what Col’s meeting with Unsworth will be like.”

“You think it’ll be bad?”

“I know it will. It’s been six weeks. No real leads left. Loads of resources spent. I’m just hoping Col can get us another month.”

“You think it’ll be enough?”

He thought about it.

“Maybe,” was all he could say.

Her blue eyes gazed sadly at him. He sensed that she knew the same as he did. That this couldn’t last. And though neither of them had ever mentioned his family—Anna hadn’t even enquired politely—he was sure she knew he had one. Knew that at some point Col would have slipped it into conversation with her to make sure.

He went to say something when Anna turned her eyes over his shoulder. Twisting in his chair and following her gaze, Jack observed Col Baker walking in.

“Listen up, you lot!” his voice resounded around the room.

Everyone stopped their talk, or whatever they were doing, and turned in their chairs.

Col didn’t look happy. His fists were balled up at his sides and his cheeks were two glowing red spots. He looked gorilla-like at the best of times, but especially so now, veins pumping in his temples, shoulders hunched.

“As of tomorrow,” he said, “control of this investigation is being handed exclusively to Ilford. Myself, Inspector Sheridan and Detective Sergeant Parkinson will be leaving you. This room will be given back to Ilford CID and the Hammond case will be passed down to Detective Constable Hope, who will be leading it.”

Everyone turned to Anna, who smiled nervously while simultaneously flushing red.

“Detective Constable Hope deserves it,” Col went on, “and I’m sure she’ll never give up on trying to find the man responsible for this hideous crime. Myself and many of you, on the other hand, will have to do just that, I’m afraid.

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