• (Chaper 1 - here)
    She sat there, a hand on each chain link of the swing, her expressionless face staring at the Detective Inspector’s feet. The black sheet had been a cloak covering her naked body from the wind and rain, quickly offered to her by the police when she was found.
    James looked at her face, startled by her abnormally white complexion and the black rings around her eyes. A voice spoke from beside him.
    “She’s about fifteen or sixteen” said one of the unknown figures in black. He stood as tall as James, but seemed much younger. His black tie and shaded glasses made him seem like some sort of MI5 agent, but why would an agent come for a missing person’s case?
    The female paramedic looked to James and Robert with a sigh.
    “As far as I can tell, she has no serious injuries, though I am concerned about her complexion…”
    The two strangers bristled, but said nothing. James looked to them with suspicion but there wasn't much he could do about them. They wouldn’t be able to get past the police barriers without showing I.D, so they would've had a security check already.
    James turned to the paramedic, regaining his awareness of the situation.
    “Will she need to go to hospital, or can we take her to the station to find her parents?”
    The paramedic blinked then nodded.
    “She should be fine, but I’m not sure about her mentality. As far as I can tell, there was no sexual activity.”
    James nodded then looked to Robert and back to the girl.
    “Then I think you’ve done all you can for now” he said, not bothering to look back at the paramedic’s scowl. She walked back up the slope, not bothering to look back at them.
    Robert hadn’t taken his eyes off the young teen, who in addition, hadn’t taken her eyes off the floor. He kneeled down, so he was at her eye level. Glancing back at James for reassurance, he relaxed his shoulders and smiled at her.
    “What’s your name sweet heart?” he said softly. There was no response. He looked up to James, who just shrugged.
    “We need to know your name so we can find your parents.” This time she looked up with such sudden ferocity, that the Detective Sergeant almost fell back in surprise. He looked at James and quickly stood up, grabbing his superior’s upper arm in a ‘tag’ gesture. James sighed and stepped forward.
    “Why are you out here with no clothes?” His tone was as cold as he was. He couldn’t wait to get back in the warm, heated car. Why should he baby sit a lost crack head?
    Again she stared, her head slightly tilted. She reached out a hand, and inches away from his protruding stomach, pointed. He looked down and screamed.