Where's my Girl by Malcolm Saville

Author:Malcolm Saville
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-26T00:00:00+00:00

7. Lucky Girl

Next morning at 6.50 precisely, Dan Sturt was wakened by the telephone ringing at his bedside. His caller was a young Detective-Sergeant called Bob Hunter whom Dan had helped unofficially more than once. Although they did not often meet they were firm friends, largely because they knew they could trust each other. The Sergeant did not waste many words this morning.

"Sound as if you've just gone to bed, young Dan. Pull yourself together because today's your lucky day. Thought you'd like to know there's talk of a record catch coming in at Brixham this morning with the tide. Some of us here are going in to see it."

A nod was as good as a wink to Dan, and for once he was out of bed and in the bathroom before his mother. Bob was stationed at Plymouth but liable to turn up anywhere in Devon, and Dan was sure that he would not have troubled to telephone so early if there was not something special brewing. But what sort of a record catch was coming in on the tide in a Brixham trawler?

He told his mother about it while she was getting his breakfast and he was looking up the tide-table in the local paper.

"Ten o'clock, Mum. Brixham can't be more than thirty miles, but I'll get there soon as I can and have a look round. Come to think of it I might go Plymouth way which is much longer, and just drop in to the paper to see if they know what's cooking."

"Must be near twice as far that way, Dan, but you've plenty of time. Now mind you have a good breakfast. No good going out on a day's work with an empty stomach. Just relax for ten minutes and eat your bacon and eggs quiet and peaceful. I'll expect you when I see you later today. Take care on the roads."

She always said this and Dan never forgot. He was a good and careful driver.

It was a beautiful morning when he set out soon after eight. He knew every inch of the road to Plymouth and got to town in time to scribble a note to his News Editor at the office saying he might be on to something at Brixham and would telephone later.

And so through Ivybridge and Bittaford he came to Totnes, crossed the Dart and headed for Torbay. Ever since he had moved to Devon to help his mother with a new life Dan had been fascinated by Brixham, because although it was always packed with visitors in the season it still retained its individuality as a small fishing port. There really were genuine trawlers still working from here - many of them battered and shabby but strikingly colourful with bright red and blue sails. There were two harbours, an attractive busy quay, landing stages for the passenger boats and a fish market.

Dan left his Mini in a car park near the Bus Station and was interested to see a dark blue police van in one corner.

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