Back in his office at Loreburn Street, having ascertained that there were no new developments in the Boyd case, Farrell buried himself in the files relating to the missing kids. They were severely understaffed in Dumfries compared to the manpower and resources available in the Central Belt. It was going to be all hands to the pump until further notice if these kids were to stand a chance. It might even be already too late. Patterns were starting to emerge. It was also clear that the abductor had an accomplice. Mrs Mitchell from Head Start had phoned and spoken to someone who confirmed the man’s identity while he was there. It had transpired that there was someone at the social work department who went by the name of Brian Scott but he was currently sunning himself in Ibiza.
Farrell compared the fake child protection order with the genuine article from last year. The only discrepancy was the phone number. He tried it, not expecting an answer. Someone picked up after the third ring. Farrell froze. What had he done?
‘Inspector Farrell here, who am I speaking to?’
‘Well, hello, Inspector Farrell, this is a surprise,’ said the voice on the phone.
‘What should I call you?’ asked Farrell, trying to keep his voice as even as his pounding heart would allow.
‘What’s in a name? Names are just accidents of birth; don’t you agree?’
‘Perhaps,’ said Farrell neutrally. ‘The little boys, Mark, Paul, and Andy, are they still alive?’
‘So many questions. It’s really not polite, Frank.’
‘What do you want to talk about then?’
‘Are you a gambling man, Frank?’
‘Can’t say that I am,’ answered Farrell, keen to keep him on the phone for as long as possible.
‘Well if I were you I wouldn’t bet on Andy coming back home. Two aren’t always better than one. You’ve got until midnight on Friday to save me from myself, Frank.’
‘Turn yourself in,’ urged Farrell. ‘We can do a deal. Anything is possible if you let those little boys walk out of this unharmed.’
‘Be great, wouldn’t it, Frank? Life isn’t like that.’
‘Make it like that,’ urged Farrell. ‘You’re the one holding all the cards.’
‘And Andy just drew the two of clubs. Life’s a bitch.’
‘It’s not too late to turn back. Tell me where those boys are.’
‘Do you believe in a bountiful God, Father Frank?’
Farrell stiffened. ‘Why did you kill Boyd? It was you, wasn’t it?’
‘Now why did you have to go and ruin the ambience, Frank? I was just starting to enjoy our little chat.’
‘Wait! We can talk about something else.’
‘Bye Frank. Give my regards to Clare.’
‘How do you …’
The phone went dead.
‘Dammit!’ Farrell yelled and sent his chair crashing backwards as he leapt up and tore down the corridor to the MCA room. He flung the door back against its hinges, startling the occupants.
‘The abductor. I’ve just spoken to him. Get technical support in my room to set up a trace in case he calls me back.’
Lind walked over to him, looking worried.
‘What, you mean he called the station?’
‘No,’ said Farrell, grimly. ‘I called him.’
‘From your room?’ asked Lind.
‘Yes, from my room,’ snapped Farrell, already aware that he’d blown it big time.
If he’d only had the sense to call from the MCA room, they could have maybe traced the call, got a lead on where he was keeping the kids.
‘Jesus, Frank. Wait until the super hears about this,’ murmured Lind, worriedly.
‘Hears about what exactly,’ boomed a voice from the open doorway.
Everyone except Lind and Farrell became totally engrossed in what they were doing.
‘Well, Sir …’ began Lind.
Farrell stepped in front of the super and eyeballed him. Better to go out with a bang than a whimper.
‘I’ve just spoken to the abductor, Sir.’
‘Get a trace?’ barked the super.
‘No, Sir. I dialled the number on the place of safety order. Never thought I’d get through to anyone.’
‘Well, isn’t this just fine and dandy,’ hissed the super, so angry he looked on the verge of stroking out.
‘Sorry, Sir,’ said Farrell, uncomfortably aware that this time he deserved the wrath of the man in front of him.
‘We have a deranged kidnapper loose on our patch and you didn’t think to start a trace before you phoned him for a little chat?’
‘No, Sir,’ said Farrell.
Walker suddenly slumped as though the fight had gone out of him. In a more reasonable tone of voice he asked, ‘did he say anything about the kids, anything to help us find them?’
‘Just that Andy had drawn the two of clubs, and we have until midnight on Friday to save him from himself.’
‘That gives us four days to nail the bastard,’ yelled the super to the room at large. ‘I want every available body on this investigation and I want RESULTS!’
As he was walking out the door he stuck his face right in Farrell’s, so close Farrell could smell the stale odour of his last fag.
‘No more cock-ups, Farrell?’
‘No, Sir.’
Once the super had left there was a collective exhalation of air by all those present. Farrell quickly briefed them on the details of his conversation, this time holding nothing back. Lind looked worried.
‘This guy seems to know a helluva lot about you, Frank. I don’t like it.’
‘It’s not uncommon for a perpetrator to fixate on one of the main investigating officers. Everything he said about me is a matter of public record,’ said Farrell.
‘Then who’s Clare?’ piped up the irrepressible Byers, earning a frown from Lind.
‘A forensic psychiatrist who’s been helping me with the Boyd case,’ replied Farrell, not batting an eyelid.
Byers looked disappointed.
‘Right folks, listen up,’ said Lind. ‘We have several new lines of enquiry. The abductor obviously has an accomplice. He waltzed into that nursery this morning with paperwork he knew would be subject to scrutiny. While he was there, Mrs Mitchell phoned a number purporting to be social services and spoke to someone who verified the documents were genuine. The name he gave was Brian Scott, duty social worker, but we’ve already established the real Brian Scott is out of the country therefore couldn’t have made the call. Our accomplice may work in social services or for Dumfries and Galloway Council in some capacity. We need to get onto BT and get a location for the phone number and officers out there right away. The abductor is targeting identical twin boys. Find out who has information on their database about twins living in this area. I want all empty churches and church halls within a thirty-mile radius of Dumfries identified and searched. Given the fact that the first boys were found in an abandoned church he may have picked a hideaway again, either for some as yet undisclosed religious significance or simply for convenience. There are three scared toddlers out there relying on us to find some answers. Let’s get to it.’
Farrell turned on his heel to leave.
‘Frank, what about Clare?’ asked Lind. ‘The killer mentioned her by name. You’d better warn her to be careful.’
‘Don’t worry,’ replied Farrell. ‘I’ve already thought of that.’