Free The Sect (The Craig Crime Series) by Catriona King Page B

recognised him.” He paused before continuing solemnly. “He was still at secondary school.”
    “Runaway?”
    “No. The school didn’t even notice that he’d gone. The fifth form is off for three weeks on revision pre-exams, so they thought that he was at home studying. His name’s Sam Beech; aged sixteen.”
    “Sixteen! That’s just a kid. How did no-one report him missing?”
    “The family did. I’ve just found the file and sent it through.”
    Davy clicked on his intranet and watched as the attachment appeared. After a quick read another grunt told Des that he’d received the mail. Des rose, readying to return to the three lots of cling-film that needed his attention. It was only a yelled “Des” that made him realise he hadn’t ended the call.
    “Sorry. I thought I’d hung up.”
    Before Davy could answer he had. Nicky had been watching the exchange and as Davy’s phone went down she bustled across the office, eager to know what he’d found out. She stood in front of his desk, arms folded and with a questioning look on her face. The analyst ignored her for a moment then remembered that she could outstare even Liam and that unless he gave her what she wanted she’d probably still be standing there at five o’clock.
    He raised his almond eyes slowly, accompanying the action with an exaggerated sigh.
    “Can I help you, Nicky?”
    Nicky’s arms tightened and her lips tightened to match. When she realised she couldn’t speak through them she quickly abandoned the stance.
    “What did Des have to say?”
    “And you need to know that, w…why?”
    “Don’t get funny with me, young man. I need to know everything that happens on this floor.”
    Just then Craig’s office door opened and he appeared beside her desk. He gazed around for a moment before he spotted Nicky halfway across the squad.
    “Nick, get me a copy of the Greer appeal, please. And we need to discuss the arrangements for Yemi’s trip.”
    She didn’t budge, knowing that her immobility would draw him over and gain her an ally. Craig fulfilled the first part of her prediction, but on the second he took Davy’s side.
    “Why are you giving Davy the evil eye?”
    “He’s withholding information.”
    It was a phrase she’d heard in briefings and had always thought it had sounded cool. Craig gave a small laugh.
    “That only applies in criminal cases.” He turned to Davy, amused. “Have you done something criminal?”
    “Only if denying Nicky something is a crime.”
    “Strangely, it’s not.”
    Craig placed his hands on her shoulders and walked her back towards her desk, ignoring the evil eye being turned on him. “Greer appeal, please. I’ll be there in a moment.” He turned back to Davy. “Care to elaborate?”
    The Emo gave a satisfied smirk that if Nicky had seen it would have earned him a clip on the ear.
    “Des just called. No joy on the first two victims but he got a hit on number three’s photograph with a local s…school.”
    He hit a key and an image of their third victim filled the screen. He was in school uniform.
    Craig gasped. “How old?”
    “Sixteen. He was in the fifth form. They w…were off on three week’s study leave, probably for their mock GCSEs at this time of year.”
    “Name?”
    “Sam Beech. His family reported him missing two weeks ago.”
    Nicky had been gearing up to put sugar into Craig’s coffee in vengeance but when she saw his expression she knew something was very wrong. She ventured close enough to hear his next words.
    “Find Liam and tell him to meet me at the lab. I’ll need two copies of that file to take with me.”
    He turned to catch Nicky gawping and strode past her into his office, reappearing with his jacket and keys.
    “I’ll get the Greer report when I get back.”
    Davy loped across with the files and Craig was at the lift before Nicky could ask him anything. When Davy brought her up to date her face dropped.
    “But why didn’t we hear about a missing child on the