38

Friday 25 July 2014

Sarah stepped out of the car and threw the police logbook onto the dashboard. She pulled her jacket around her, zipped it up and threaded her way past the gate and into the park. The tree canopy moved darkly in the wind. A cold front had swiftly dispelled the clear skies and the path to the park wardens’ rest area was gloomy compared to the dappled sunlight of the previous days.

Harry was waiting for her in the hut, sitting with Tom and two other wardens – a young man and woman – all having early-morning coffee and toast.

‘Hide your weed,’ Harry said loudly. ‘Police officer.’

Sarah shrugged and opened her hands in mock despair at Harry’s remark. ‘What can you do?’

Tom smiled. ‘I could have picked you up, Sarah. Do you want a bevvy?’

‘No, it’s fine. And thank you, but I wanted to walk anyway.’ She turned to Harry, who was already pushing back his chair to stand. ‘So are you going to give me the tour?’

‘Yes, ma’am, but it won’t take long.’

They moved through the single door and Sarah saw a small changing area. Harry was already talking.

‘Yes, he always got here early, give him that. Arrived before me.’

Sarah looked around her. The floor was scuffed with mud. There was a bench, pegs. A shower and toilets.

‘And did he or the children use this area?’

‘Not really. Sometimes if we were feeling soft-hearted we woulda let the children use the toilet. But not usually. There’s one in the park.’

‘OK, so how would the school volunteers have got here? Did you pick them up? Did they make their own way?’

‘Woulda used the bus, been brought here by their teachers. ’Cept for Mr Stephenson, of course. Him too grand for that.’

‘Oh?’

‘Yes, Mr Stephenson should be treated like royalty man. Had to have him a parking space.’

She followed Harry outside to the small tarmacked area. It was jammed. There was an electric truck parked up, a small tractor and three private cars, all old.

‘We was digging the place up at the time, re-tarmacking. Still, him got to bring his car in, no question ’bout that.’

‘And he was here before you? He had a key to the gate?’

‘Yes, Sarah, always. Had him a key, insisted on that.’