Shona and I are walking to the shop to get sweeties. Shona’s mum gave her two shillings on her last visit. She didn’t tell anyone but last night when everyone went to sleep she told me, and said that after breakfast we’d go and get a bag of sweets.
We’re coming past the main road when I see Detective Walker getting out of his car. He sees me and looks down as if he hasn’t. I tell Shona I’m sorry but I have to go.
‘Mr Walker! Mr Walker!’ I shout. He is still looking down, so I don’t think he hears me. I run after him. When I catch up with him, he looks surprised.
‘Mr Walker,’ I say, ‘is there any news? Do you have a new suspect?’
‘It’s Detective Walker, Lesley, and there’s no more news at the moment. I was just going to see the Superintendent to give him an update.’
‘So … it wasnae Mr Sharples?’
‘No, Lesley, it wasn’t. He can account for his whereabouts for all the times of the attacks and there are people who can verify those claims, so we have ruled him out for the time being.’
‘I’m sorry, I just thought—’
‘Thank you for trying to help us, but you shouldn’t judge people just because they are a bit different.’
‘Sorry.’
‘Like I said, thanks for your help, though.’
‘Well, is there anyone else? Because they are still out there and people seem to have forgotten about that. People here are carrying on as if everything is normal and it’s no. There’s still a killer about.’
‘Yes, Lesley, believe me, we haven’t forgotten.’
‘So you have other suspects? Who are they?’
‘We have some people of interest, but I would be seriously undermining the investigation if I were to tell you who they were.’
‘Oh … all right.’
‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get in to see Mr Gordon. Thank you.’ He smiles at me but he doesn’t mean it.
I watch him go inside the executive building where the Super’s office is, and think about waiting for him to come back out. I could help the police, I am the person who is here all the time, I am the one who sees what’s going on. I was closest to Jonesy. I have to be of some use to them.
I stand in the same spot for the next five minutes, unsure of what I should do next, when I remember Shona and the sweet shop. When I get to the shop she’s just leaving. I catch up with her but she says I can’t have any sweets as I didn’t come with her to buy them. I tell her I had to talk to the policeman, but it doesn’t seem to matter to her.
She tries to walk a little faster and leave me behind, but I keep up with her, so she tries to walk faster still. In the end we are almost running back to the house.
I stop and let her get away. If she wants to be silly, she can; there are more important things than sweets.
‘Suit yerself,’ I say as she goes.
She doesn’t speak to me for the next two days.