Toys in the Dust by N.M. Brown

Author:N.M. Brown [Brown, N.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Chapter 31

When Leighton left Mind Space centre, he ironically felt more stressed than he had before going in. James often told him that talking in therapy could raise some uncomfortable thoughts and feelings but in the end it would help. Leighton wasn’t convinced.

Crossing the deserted parking lot, he realised that he needed to have a conversation with somebody back at the station.

As he drove across town, Leighton’s thoughts kept drifting back to the small figure running across the road in front of his car. It seemed like a loop of movie reel playing round his head. For a moment he considered the possibility that James was correct – that the small figure was actually a construct of his stressed-out mind. After all, the kid had looked the same size, gender and build as Annie. But then again, the news report had confirmed that there actually was a real missing kid who matched the description. That couldn’t be down to Leighton’s emotional state.

Having parked at the rear of Oceanside Police Station, Leighton hurried through the glass doors and made his way to the administration section where he stopped outside a plain wooden door. He knocked and waited.

‘Come in,’ a female voice from the other side called.

Leighton opened the door and entered. He found Captain Levvy filing papers at her desk. She had set out four trays and a wastepaper basket was placed nearby.

‘Officer Jones, can I help you?’ she asked without stopping what she was doing.

‘I’ve just come from my compulsory therapy session.’

‘Ah, and how’s that all working out for you?’ Levvy asked with a tone of disinterest.

‘The therapist asked me about the kid I saw on Old Mill Way on Monday.’

‘What about it?’ Levvy kept adjusting the papers.

‘Captain, how did my therapist know about our conversation?’

‘He gets updates.’

‘But I only spoke to you last night. That means that the conversation about the kid would not have been on any update that had faxed across yesterday. The only way it would have been passed on would have been if you called in the morning without any agreed update protocol.’

‘Okay.’ Levvy shrugged, ‘I told him – this morning on the telephone.’

‘Why?’

‘Well, I thought it might be linked to your stress.’

‘Captain, I simply made a report of a sighting of a missing kid,’ Leighton ran a hand through his hair, ‘how the hell is that linked to stress?’

‘Well you sound pretty stressed talking about it just now.’

‘Has anyone looked into my sighting?’ Leighton asked.

‘Officer, you are an employee with some psychological issues, which have resulted in you abandoning your duties in this station. You gave a vague report that was unsubstantiated, of a child you saw eleven miles from where Tina was last seen. Miles – let me emphasise – not yards. I’m not sure what you expect anyone to do with that kind of information.’

‘Has anyone looked into my sighting?’ Leighton repeated.

Levvy sighed. ‘The information you gave us was passed on to Officers Dane and Lorenzo, and if you attempt to second guess me again I’ll have you up on a professional misconduct charge.

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