The Value of Life Read online

  Chapter 7: Oh shit!

  When they arrived back at the police station they were halfway between the car park and building when Bentworth's phone rang,

  "CDI Bentworth," he answered. "Yes Sir," he said into the phone and paused, "I'm just here now Sir, in the car park, we've just got back from the Martins' Sir," another pause. "Yes Sir I have it here," he listened for a longer time, "OK Sir, I'll be up right away." He turned to Josef,

  "I've got to go 'upstairs' Jo," he said with a nod toward the building in front of them, "I've got to fill in the Superintendent on what's going on. I don't want to loose this case to Specialist Crime Directorate or anyone else. I don't know how long I'll be so just do what you can, get someone to chase up the family medical history and get DC Ward to ask about the abuse angle in the school but go gentle if you know what I mean."

  Josef held the door open for Bentworth who passed through and disappeared in the opposite direction without another word.

  Josef returned to CID and found an empty desk. He spent the next hour making notes and calls and by lunchtime he had the afternoon booked. He ate a quick lunch in the canteen and drove across town to Daniel's school. When he arrived at St Benjamin's and found reception he was greeted by a school secretary who reminded him of the nit nurse in his primary school. He introduced himself and was shown straight into the headmistress's office.

  "Mrs. Plotsligt," the headmistress said offering a hand. Josef took it. "Please have a seat inspector."

  Josef smiled, "Josef Lindahl, it's, err, just plain DC I'm afraid"

  "DC?" she enquired, deflated.

  "Detective Constable," he replied, at which she brightened again.

  "Well, please have a seat detective," she waited until Josef sat. "What can I do for you? There was a policeman here this morning making enquiries I gather, but I was in a meeting and didn't have time to talk to him. I take it this is about the same thing?"

  "Yes it is," Josef said. "We just need to make some more," he paused, "delicate enquiries, and I'd like to talk to both yourself and Daniel Martin's class teacher. Alone if that can be arranged."

  "Of course," she reached for the phone and dialed. "Ah, Susan, can you fetch Ms Bennett please," she hung up. "She's coming. Can I get you anything while we wait?"

  "Some coffee would be good thanks." She smiled and left Josef alone in the room. Five minutes later she returned with a tray of coffee, some biscuits and Ms Bennett.

  When all were seated and coffee served Josef began.

  "Ms Bennett, can you tell me everything you can about Daniel Martin?"

  "There's not much to tell really," she said. "He was an average student, good at sports and pretty sensible for eleven. He didn't really get into any trouble to speak of." She seemed genuine but unhelpful.

  "Have there been any incidents of fighting, bullying, his parents upsetting any other parents, anything like that, anything at all," he coaxed. Ms Bennett looked blank.

  "Not that I can think of," she said.

  "There was one more thing," Josef said, and leaned forward conspiratorially. "Did Daniel ever seem..." he paused, "down, tired, unwell in any way. Perhaps a little withdrawn or uncooperative?" He let the words hang in the air until the unspoken meaning was obvious. When no one spoke Mrs. Plotsligt broke the silence.

  "Detective, we do have a system here for identifying children who," she hunted for the words, "are at risk. Daniel has never shown any signs of being at risk. I mean his name has never been brought to my attention."

  When Josef left he was pretty sure that, whilst having all the good intentions in the world, the teachers at St Benjamin's were just not well enough equipped to do anything other than dish out a second rate education to children who could only learn if they were interested enough to try. And he still had no idea if Daniel was being abused.

  His stop at the family GP told him nothing. Daniel hadn't seen a GP in two years, and then it was for mumps and the GP he'd seen no longer worked at the health center. In fact, no present employee at the health center had seen Daniel Martin at all. There was one incident on record with A&E at the local hospital six months ago when Daniel needed stitches and a tetanus injection after falling from a fence and cutting his knee on a piece of broken fence post, but otherwise there was nothing else. He also decided to check Janet Martin's medical notes and found nothing of interest there either.

  Josef returned to CID offices around six, exhausted and pissed off. Checking around he learned that Bentworth hadn't been back all day, so after writing up his notes, copying them and leaving them in an envelope for Bentworth he left for the day. On the way home he stopped in at the Martin's house where he spoke to a young PC, but with nothing new or helpful there either he went home.

  Josef was tired, verging on exhausted. He slumped into the sofa and dozed off almost immediately. He was forced to consciousness around nine by growling hunger. He was too tired to cook so he ordered pizza. Stomach full he was just thinking of sleep when his mobile rang about ten o'clock.

  "Josef Lindahl," he answered, but this time he knew the caller's number. Josef listened for about ten seconds.

  "Oh shit!" he said, "hang on I'll get a pen." He wrote an address and hung up.