Leighton got out of his car just as Dane and Lorenzo were leaving the station building in the direction of the car pool. He knew he would have to be quick to catch them before they got in their cruiser.
‘Officers,’ Leighton called over, ‘have you got a minute?’
Both men stopped and turned. Dane – the taller of the two – turned to Lorenzo and said something that made him laugh. Leighton pretended he didn’t notice and hurried across the parking lot to meet them.
‘What’s up?’ Dane asked.
‘You’re the guys working the Blanchette case, aren’t you?’
‘That’s right,’ Lorenzo said. He folded his arms across his chest. ‘What of it?’
‘Did Levvy tell you that I made a possible sighting of the kid on Monday evening?’
The two officers glanced at each other for a moment. Then Dane nodded unconvincingly, ‘Sure, she told us, of course.’
‘So, have you guys been out to the location yet?’ Leighton asked.
‘No, not yet. It’s on our list, though.’
‘Good,’ Leighton nodded with a grim smile. ‘So answer me this, boys. What’s the name of the location that’s on your list?’
There was a moment of nervous laughter from Dane and Lorenzo.
‘Come on.’ Leighton continued pushing it, ‘I mean you must know the actual name of the place, right?’
‘Look, we’re busy, man,’ Dane said, ‘I probably have it written down somewhere.’
‘This is such bullshit,’ Leighton said with real anger and frustration, ‘Levvy didn’t tell you, did she?’
‘Jones,’ Dane said with a shake of his head, ‘stick to your own job. You have no business interfering with missing persons anyway.’
‘Yeah?’ Leighton said pointing his finger at the two officers, ‘I guess that makes sense. You wouldn’t want me getting in the way of your fucking inactivity.’
‘What did you say?’ Lorenzo tried to step toward Leighton in confrontation, but Dane held him back.
Leighton shook his head and walked away from Dane and Lorenzo. By the time they had reached their car, Leighton had already entered the station.
A young female officer who was working reception looked up when Leighton came in.
‘Is Captain Levvy in?’ Leighton asked, as he walked purposefully up to the desk.
‘Hold on, I’ll check.’ the young officer said, as she picked up a telephone. However, he was stopped by another voice coming from the corridor to his right.
‘That won’t be necessary, Andrea,’ Chief Winston said. ‘Officer Jones, can I speak to you for a moment?’
Leighton followed the chief into his office where both men took a seat at opposite sides of the cheap wooden desk.
‘What was that pissing contest in the parking lot all about?’ Winston asked.
‘Nothing,’ Leighton said.
‘Looked like something to me.’
Leighton sighed. ‘I was just asking those two knuckleheads about the Blanchette case. That’s all.’
Chief Winston closed his eyes in exasperation. When he opened them, he looked like a man who was rapidly running out of patience.
‘Right, this ends now!’ Winston said.
‘What does?’ Leighton asked.
‘This missing kid madness you seem to be enjoying so much.’
‘I wouldn’t say I’m enjoying the fact that a kid could be out there with nobody looking for her.’
‘I don’t see what’s so damned complicated about this. Ellen Levvy is in charge of missing persons, not you. You need to back off. Stop harassing your colleagues.’
‘Why?’ Leighton asked. ‘What harm does it do to have another cop helping with the search?’
‘Look, you’ve got no jurisdiction, it’s not your case. You work traffic, period!’
Leighton listened and nodded politely, but his position remained unmoved.
‘Sir, I just think the kid is still out there – alive, maybe.’
The older officer sighed and looked away for a moment. He then returned his attention to Leighton.
‘Okay,’ he said, soberly, ‘you have a theory, and that’s interesting. But what do you think would happen if we sent out a team to some godforsaken field every time a cop had a hunch?’
‘It’s not a hunch,’ Leighton said, defiantly, ‘I saw her, chief!’
‘You saw somebody.’
‘I saw Tina Blanchette!’
‘Bullshit. The kid is most likely in Alaska with her dad.’
‘Based on what?’
‘Two credible sightings.’
‘Credible my ass!’
‘We have traffic officers to manage traffic – you are answerable to Captain Pierce. This case – and anything Captain Levvy or Dane and Lorenzo do – is not your concern. If you pursue it, I have to tell you – formally – that you will put your position as a serving officer at risk.’
‘What does that mean, I’ll be fired for trying to do my job?’
‘Your job is dealing with highways and vehicles and drivers. If you stick to that we won’t have a problem. Why don’t you take the rest of the day, go pick up Annie and spend some time together?’
‘I can’t she’s staying with Heather’s folks for a few days – till Saturday.’
Winston looked at him.
‘Jesus, Leighton, don’t you think that’s maybe part of the problem?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Has she stayed with them before?’
‘Once or twice,’ Leighton said with a shrug.
‘For as long as this?’ Winston asked.
‘No, not quite. But what difference does that make?’
‘Well, don’t you think that maybe you’re projecting some of your mixed-up emotions on to this Blanchette case?’
‘No, I don’t,’ Leighton said, but the fight was gone from his voice. Perhaps it was the thought of Annie sleeping somewhere else or the fact that no-one was prepared to listen, but he felt exhausted and defeated.
‘Look,’ Winston said, ‘why don’t you go get a coffee, freshen up your mind then get back to work. Maybe chase up some warrants, yeah?’
‘Sure,’ Leighton nodded.