“You know I never doubt any information that comes through you, Carol. I’m glad Dad is still around, watching over us, the way he did when he was alive.”

  “Never doubt it, love. Right, I have a dinner date this evening with Ted. I must make a move.”

  “Ooo, get you. Have fun, and thanks for stopping by, Carol.” Lorne kissed her on the cheek.

  “I needed you to know. See you both soon. Love to Charlie, so glad she decided to go with the right option. She’s going to be awesome in that role.”

  “I’ll tell her you said that. Take care, lovely.”

  Chapter 10

  The following morning, Lorne organised the team as soon as Sean gave the go-ahead that the warrant had been served. “Okay, you all know what has to be done. We round the kids up at the same time at the two locations. There will be extra uniformed officers joining us to ensure the kids can’t contact each other to issue any tip-offs.”

  Sean and Lorne set off for Leyton Manor to pick up the Swallow kids, leaving the rest of the team to head over to Trinity school with the other officers to pick up the other four members of the gang.

  Karen remained behind. Each team would contact her once the kids had been picked up. It would be down to Karen to ring the kids’ parents to inform them to get to the station to join their children, ready for when the interviews began. It was too risky to make the arrangements beforehand in case word got back to the kids and they took flight.

  With her heart pounding, Lorne sat in Sean’s car as he drove the five miles to Leyton Manor. She sighed. “Let’s hope they don’t kick up a fuss.” There was a squad car following them to the location with a male and a female officer inside. They would be transporting one of the kids back to the station while the other would hitch a ride with them in Sean’s car.

  “How are you feeling?” Sean asked. They were a few roads away from the school at this time.

  “I have to say I’m a little anxious about how this is going to go down. I’ve never felt this way when going out to pick up a suspect.”

  “It’s because they’re kids. It doesn’t feel right because we’re parents. I’m feeling the same way.”

  “We need to put all personal feelings aside, don’t we?”

  He patted her on the knee. “Once we get there, we’ll do just that. We’ve got this, partner.”

  Lorne faced him and smiled. For once she hadn’t regretted teaming up with him on a case. This time round he appeared to have mellowed towards her, as if he’d finally accepted that she was an excellent and capable copper. Unless she was misreading the signs and he was going to prove her wrong by pouncing on her once the case was over. She pushed that thought firmly to the back of her mind. She still missed being alongside Katy, however, and nothing would change that.

  Sean drew up in the car park that was at the rear of the building, and they exited the vehicle. Lorne got on the radio to coordinate the pickup. When the other team announced they were in position, Lorne instructed the two uniformed officers to join them, and together they marched into the school. Karen had rung ahead to warn the head, Mr Chapman, what was going to happen. He was waiting for them outside his office in the main hallway. Sean and Lorne shook his hand, then he led the four of them down a long corridor to the classroom at the end. Opening the door, Lorne and Sean slipped inside the room while the uniformed officers remained in the hallway.

  “Excuse the intrusion, Mrs Miller. I’d like a word with Brian and Billie Swallow if I may?”

  “Of course, Mr Chapman. Brian, Billie, go with Mr Chapman. Take your bags with you.”

  Billie appeared confused and looked sideways at her brother who seemed equally perplexed. Lorne sensed their hesitation, as if they were going to attempt a getaway. Instead, Billie and Brian gathered their books and pens, stuffed them in the bags and stood, knocking their chairs over in the process.

  “Pick them up,” Mr Chapman ordered.

  The children grudgingly did as requested then made their way towards the front of the class. Billie’s gaze fixed on Lorne. She could read the defiance in the teenager’s eyes but also thought she detected something else there, too, that she couldn’t quite place.

  “What’s this about?” Billie demanded.

  “We’ll tell you outside in the hallway,” Mr Chapman replied stiffly.

  Once the door to the classroom was closed, Mr Chapman informed the pair what was about to happen.

  “What? You’ve got no right to arrest us. On what grounds?” Billie spat the words out in Lorne’s direction. She even took a few steps closer to Lorne, who stood her ground.

  “Don’t talk to the inspector in that tone, Swallow. Go with them peacefully. Your mother will meet you at the station.”

  “What? Why? What’s she got to do with any of this?”

  “We can’t question minors without a parent or guardian being present,” Lorne informed her.

  Billie strode away from the group and shouted over her shoulder. “Well, come on then. Let’s get this crap over and done with. Not that we’ve done anything wrong, have we, Brian?”

  “Nope. Not sure what this is about, sis,” her brother replied, strutting down the hallway after his sister.

  Lorne motioned for the uniformed officers to accompany the two children from the school premises and out to the vehicles. The headmaster walked with them to the entrance of the school and shook Lorne’s and Sean’s hands again.

  “Will you let me know what happens?”

  “Of course, Mr Chapman. We appreciate your assistance in this matter.”

  “It’s my pleasure. Can’t abide any form of bullying, especially when it goes to extremes as in this instance.”

  “We’ll be in touch soon.”

  Lorne and Sean arrived at their car to find Billie and Brian kicking off. “Pack it in. You’re only going to make the charges against you a darn sight worse. You’re not doing yourselves any favours,” Lorne shouted above all the din. She grabbed Billie’s arm and forced it behind her back while the female constable slipped the cuffs on the wriggling girl’s wrists.

  Billie twisted around and glared at Lorne. “What the hell are you doing? I have rights. I know you’re not allowed to treat me like this.”

  “Yes, you have rights. However, under the warrant we’ve just obtained, we have rights that outmatch any you have.”

  Billie’s shoulders slumped in resignation. Lorne picked up the girl’s school bag and threw it in the back of Sean’s car. Then she returned to escort Billie to the vehicle and placed her hand on the top of the girl’s head as she guided her into the back.

  Sean jumped behind the steering wheel while Lorne returned to the male officer standing alongside Brian. “Are we going to do this the easy or the hard way, Master Swallow?”

  He took a step towards Sean’s car. She held up a hand to prevent him going any further. “No, you’ll be going with these officers. From now on you and your sister will be kept apart.”

  “Whatever. You better cuff me as well in case I feel like striking out and one of these officers’ faces gets in my way.”

  “Threatening behaviour doesn’t wash with me, lad. We’ll cuff you, for your own safety. I’m warning you now, you’d be advised to rein in that temper of yours.”

  “Whatever,” he repeated, shrugging in a couldn’t-give-a-shit kind of way.

  Lorne ensured Brian was safely tucked up in the back seat of the other vehicle before she returned to Sean’s car.

  The two cars drove in convoy to the station. They were the first team to arrive. Lorne ran ahead to speak to the desk sergeant. He told her that all the interview rooms were free and pointed across the room at a couple of people sitting in the waiting area. “A few of the parents have already arrived, ma’am.”

  “Excellent news. The quicker we can begin the interviews the better. Is Mrs Swallow here yet?”

  “Not yet. Karen rang, said she was having trouble contacting the woman.”

  “Damn. Okay, let’s not worry about that for now. Can you organise some backup for me? It’s my intention to keep the kids apart. Therefore, I’d like to put each of them in one of the interview rooms with their respective family member and one of your constables standing on guard, inside the room.”

  “I can arrange that, ma’am.”

  “Good. Thanks, Mick. We’ll unload the cars and begin the process. Have the two duty solicitors arrived yet?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He angled his head to two people standing away from the parents, both flicking through their smart phones.

  Lorne looked back at him and rolled her eyes.

  “Good luck,” Mick whispered across the counter.

  I’ll take all the luck on offer. “Thanks, think I’m going to need a heap of that over the coming few hours. We all are.”

  Lorne returned to the vehicle and instructed the uniformed officers in the backup car that they were ready to proceed. She opened the back door and bent down. “Billie, it’s time to go.”

  The girl’s head swivelled in slow motion, her gaze full of venom when it landed on Lorne. “I’m comfortable here.”

  “Get out of the car,” Sean bellowed, catching Billie off-guard. Up until now, he’d barely said two words to the suspect.

  Lorne grinned and gestured for Billie to scoot across the seat to join her.

  Eyes narrowed and hands still cuffed behind her, Billie used her legs to jerk herself across the seat and out of the car. “Is my mum here?”

  “Not yet. I’m presuming she’s on her way or will be soon,” Lorne lied, hoping that Karen would make contact with the woman soon. She hooked her hand around Billie’s elbow and pulled her towards the station. The girl dug in her heels, refusing to budge. “We can do this the easy or the hard way. Which is it to be, Billie?”

  “I want to make sure my brother is all right. I need to speak to him before I go inside.” She glanced over at the car parked a few feet away.

  “It’s not going to happen. From now on, you’re both going to do as you’re told. We’re in charge, and you’re not here for a cosy visit. This is serious business. Got that?”

  Billie exhaled and let out a guttural noise that Lorne took to be a frustrated growl. She tried a second time to move the girl, and this time she went willingly, even though her gaze remained on the car holding her brother. Sean stood on the other side of the girl, blocking her view. She glared at him and then faced the direction she was being steered in, finally.

  Lorne was already regretting their decision to bring Billie in. She feared the girl was going to be trouble with a capital T, with or without her mother being present. She reminded her a little bit of how Charlie had been in her early teens when she’d been part of a gang. Maybe girls have to try harder to fit in? Either way, she was determined Billie wasn’t going to win. Together, Lorne and Sean guided Billie through the station’s waiting area and into Interview Room One where they found a female constable waiting for them. Lorne instructed Billie to take a seat. “Sit there until your mother shows up. We’ll be back in a moment or two.”

  The constable tugged out a chair, and Billie flopped into it. “Can you take these cuffs off?”

  Lorne shook her head. “Not until your mother and your solicitor get here.”

  Billie’s chin dropped onto her chest in defeat.

  Lorne left the room and returned to the reception area as the uniformed officers were bringing Brian into the station. “Place him in Interview Room Two, if you will. We’re waiting for his mother to show up.”

  “I want to see my sister,” Brian snarled, his eyes boring into Lorne’s.

  “All in good time. Go with the officers and keep your trap shut until we get to you.”

  “I want to be out of here by six.”

  She tilted her head. “Any specific reason?”

  “That’s our dinner time. I turn into a right grouch if I miss a meal.”

  Lorne issued a taut smile. “I’ll bear that in mind. Thanks for the heads-up.”

  He hitched up a shoulder. “You’re welcome.”

  Lorne nodded for the two officers to remove him from the area and then ran upstairs to the incident room to speak with Karen. “No joy contacting Mrs Swallow yet?”

  Karen held up a hand and raised her index finger. “I’ve just managed to track her down. She’s at home, been out shopping all afternoon and forgot her phone. After I received a lashing from her venomous tongue, she told me that she’d jump in a cab and be here within ten minutes.”

  “I thought these types of people didn’t go anywhere without their phones. Okay, that gives me enough time to down a cup of coffee. Want one?”

  “Please, boss. What sort of mood are the kids in?”

  “Snarky. I get the impression we’re in for a bumpy ride.”

  “I don’t envy you. I’m glad I’m up here out of the way.”

  Lorne handed Karen her drink. “I wish I didn’t have to go through with this either. I hope I can restrain my temper. It’s going to be a mammoth task knowing what these kids have been responsible for, especially as the repercussions are ongoing, such as in Mrs Giles’s case.”

  “I think I’d be tempted to get angry with them as well. You’re definitely not alone there, boss.”

  Lorne blew on her coffee to try to cool it down then finished it within a couple of mouthfuls. The caffeine filled her veins, giving her the strength she was searching for to question the brats waiting for her downstairs. “I better go and see how Graham and Patrick are getting on. Not all the parents have arrived, but they can start interviewing the kids whose parents are waiting downstairs. I’m eager to get the ball rolling.”

  Karen shouted good luck behind her as she marched out of the room and down the stairs. Sean was waiting in the hallway. “Where did you disappear to? One second you were here and the next you were gone. I’ve been searching for you everywhere.”

  “Sorry, I should have told you I was going upstairs. I needed to see Karen. Mrs Swallow is on her way, she should be here any second now.” A woman’s voice erupted in the reception area. “I think I can hear her dulcet tones vying for our attention.”

  Sean tutted. “Crap, sounds like she’s from the dregs of society. Dare I say it, no wonder she’s bloody single and her kids are bloody troublemakers.”

  Lorne chuckled. “That’s a little presumptuous of you. You haven’t even been in the same room as the woman yet.”

  Sean motioned with his head towards the reception area. “I don’t need to. I can tell what she’s going to be like without having the pleasure of making her acquaintance.”

  “Maybe you’re right. I’m not sure what the kids’ father’s background is, but their brother is already behind bars.”

  “I rest my case.”

  “Come on. We better go and introduce ourselves before she starts wrecking the place.” Lorne’s legs suddenly felt heavy, as if reluctant to take her on her journey to meet the woman.

  The desk sergeant was anxiously looking at the doorway. Lorne smiled and walked over to the woman who was bending his ear with a foul tongue.

  She stuck out her hand. “You must be Mrs Swallow. I’m DI Lorne Warner, and this is my boss, DCI Sean Roberts. Thank you for coming to see us so promptly.”

  “I don’t give a flying fuck what your names are, I’m here to see my kids. Get them out here now.”

  “That’s not going to happen, Mrs Swallow. Your son and daughter have been brought in for questioning about some very serious crimes that have taken place over the last few months. They will not be leaving this station until they have both been interviewed under caution.”

  “You’re talking bullshit. My kids haven’t been up to anything. They’re good kids.”

  “If you say so. I might say in response to that, why were your kids expelled from Trinity in that case? But I won’t. If you’d like to take a seat for a moment, there are a couple of things I need to organise before we get the interviews underway.”

  “I’m all right standing. You better be quick, I’m not going to be around here all night.”

  “You’ll be here for however long it takes, Mrs Swallow,” Lorne replied, giving the woman a sickly sweet smile. She turned her back on the woman and left the reception area with Sean.

  “Ever get the feeling we’re in for a long, long night?” he grumbled.

  “I’d say you were spot-on about that, boss. Let me see how the other interviews are going with Graham and Patrick. I’ll need to pull the solicitors from them before we can let her into the interview room to see either of her kids.”

  “I’ll take one room, if you like?”

  “Thanks.” Lorne knocked on the first door and pushed it open. “Got a minute, Graham?”

  “Interview is suspended at five thirty-five p.m.,” he announced, switching off the tape and apologising to the solicitor before joining her.

  Once the door was closed, Lorne asked, “How’s it going?”

  “He’s proving to be a tough nut to crack. It’s as if they’ve been instructed not to say anything. Saying that, I’m pleased he hasn’t gone down the ‘no comment’ route, not yet anyway.”

  “Great. Any chance you can wrap the interview up with him soon if you’re not getting anywhere? Mrs Swallow has arrived. We’re going to need the solicitor with us to question Billie. She appears to be the one leading this gang.”

  “Sure. I’m almost done. How do you want me to end things with him?”

  “If you think he’s innocent then issue a warning about his future conduct and release him.”

  Graham nodded and reentered the room. Lorne moved along the corridor to where Sean was chatting to Patrick. “Any news, Pat?”

  “Not really, boss. I was just telling the chief that he’s been keen to point the finger at the Swallow kids. They’re definitely the ones pulling the strings with this gang.”

  “As we suspected. Okay, issue him with a warning about his future conduct and release him.”

  Patrick returned to the interview room. “That’ll free both solicitors up for us, sir. Do you want to take Brian and I’ll deal with Billie?”

  “That’s not going to work, there’s only one parent between the pair of them. We might as well let Graham and Pat keep one of the solicitors to deal with the other two boys,” Sean suggested.

 

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