`They'll be fine,' Harry said. `Just put them higher up. Out of Zachary's reach.'
She hangs a little yellow feathered bird now, and leans back to see the effect. `These things are so beautiful, aren't they? We just had plastic tinsel tat when I was a child. That and a bag of Brazil nuts my dad always insisted on buying and no one ever ate.'
`At least you had a dad,' says Harry, passing up another feathered bird.
She flushes. `I'm sorry `“ I didn't mean `“'
He waves a hand, dismissive. `What you've never had, you don't miss. And my mum did her best to make up for it. Always did a ton of baking `“ traditional recipes and stuff she'd got from her grandmother. I was always the most popular kid in class.'
`Sounds lovely. I always feel inadequate, not making the boys' cakes myself. It just seems such hard work.'
He laughs. `Get them to help `“ they'd love it. I remember making these cute little doughnut things that we'd deep fry and dip in sugar. There was flour everywhere, but Mum never seemed to mind.'
It still sounds too much like hard work to Sam, but she doesn't want to say that.
`Thank you, by the way,' she says, trying to change the subject. `That pirate show you saw online? I gave them a call and they have tickets after Christmas. I'm going to make it a surprise for Matty's birthday. We can stay over `“ go to that Spaceport place he keeps on about. It'll be nice to go back to Liverpool `“ I haven't been back at all since we left.'
`Oh,' she says suddenly. `Michael `“ you're early! Isn't this fabulous?'
Her husband is standing in the doorway. She has no idea how long he has been there. Or why he has such a strange expression on his face.
I could leave the young man to the duty officer but something keeps me there, listening.
`So it's your boyfriend that's gone missing, is it?' says Woods, heavily.
The young man frowns. `Not my boyfriend. I told you, we'd only met three or four times. I just wanted to check if he's been reported missing. He doesn't have any family here so I thought `“'
`When did you last see him?'
`New Year's. He came over to my place. We arranged to meet the following weekend, but he never showed.'
`So that would have been the 6th?'
The young man nods. His name is Davy. Davy Jones. I asked him if his mum liked The Monkees and he looked at me as if I was deranged. I feel about 104.
`And he's not answering his phone?' continues Woods.
`No. Not for days.'
`You sure he doesn't just want to,' Woods looks flustered, `you know, break up with you?'
Davy flushes. `There wasn't anything to break up. I told you. It was just a hook-up.'
`Do you have a picture?' I say.
He turns to me in obvious relief and pulls one up on his phone. The young man on the screen is extraordinarily good-looking. Dark hair, light blue-violet eyes, a wide, confident smile.
I nod to Woods. `Have you got the MissPers list for the last couple of weeks?'
Missing Person Report
Date:2 January 2018 Name:Robert `Bobby' Bell
(Rough sleeper)
D.O.B.1956? Address:NFA Description:Approx 5' 5`ќ, thin, several teeth missing, scar under left eye Last seen wearing:Rough trousers and jacket, trainers, woollen hat Last seen by:Adrian Close, manager, Oxford Night Shelter Last seen date/location:23/12/17, Oxford Night Shelter, approx. 3 pm Mr Bell is a well-known rough sleeper, with both drink and drug issues. Mr Close is concerned because Mr Bell did not turn up as expected for the Night Shelter Christmas lunch. He has not been seen in any of the locations where he usually sleeps, and has not been in good health.
Logged by: PC Sandy Wilson
Missing Person Report
Date:3 January 2018 Name:Jonathan Eldridge D.O.B.18/04/1976 Address:88 Moffat Way, Kidlington Description:Medium height and build, dark hair (balding), brown eyes Last seen wearing:Tracksuit, running shoes, bumbag Last seen by:Jenny Eldridge (wife) Last seen date/location:3/1/18, Moffat Way, Kidlington, 10.30 am Mr Eldridge is a husband and father with a steady job, and no pressing financial difficulties. His health is good. He is a keen runner and was last seen leaving his home on the morning of 3 January. After he did not return by noon, his wife became concerned. He had only a phone and house keys on him. His wallet, car keys and passport remain at the house. Local hospitals have been checked.
Logged by: PC Anne Shields
Missing Person Report
Date:5 January 2018 Name:Ben Perrie D.O.B.02/10/1998 Address:St Peter's College Description:6' 2`ќ, athletic build, blond hair, blue/green eyes Last seen wearing:Dark denim jeans, light-coloured jacket, red scarf Last seen by:Maurice Jennings (porter, St Peter's) Last seen date/location:2/1/18, St Peter's lodge, approx. 1 pm Mr Perrie is a first-year student. He returned to college immediately after Christmas to study for upcoming exams. He had not been having any problems academically and his tutor says he showed no sign of anxiety. He had, however, recently broken up with his girlfriend. His parents have been informed, as have the police in Hartlepool (his home address).
Logged by: PC Sandy Wilson
I skim-read the three sheets, then read them again just to be sure, but it's pretty obvious Davy's absent friend is not a MissPers. Not officially anyway. The student's the wrong colouring, and I don't give the homeless guy very good odds in this weather. It was minus five last night. The happily married man is more of an enigma. Looks like he just did a runner. Literally. But we'll probably never know. This job is like that. Like I said before, don't become a copper if you want to know What Happened In The End.
`So he's not there?' says Davy, reading my face.
`No. But a lot of people are still away. It could be a while yet before it becomes clear someone's not where they're supposed to be.'
And yes, I'm acutely aware that I've just described my own wife.
I hand the sheets back to Woods. `I think we should log this one, Sergeant. Can you take the full details from Mr Jones?'
Woods sighs. `If you say so, sir.'
The door swings open behind me and reception is suddenly thronged with people `“ half a busload of American tourists clamouring for directions. But I should thank them, because the extra time it takes me to get through the crowd means I'm still in earshot when Woods asks his next question.
`So what's this friend of yours called, Mr Jones?'
23 December 2017, 3.12 p.m.
12 days before the fire