Cold Justice Read Free Page A

darkness, covering nearly two hundred acres. The Royal Observatory was on the brow of the hill, above them. He wondered if she’d ever been up to the Observatory. He knew he hadn’t. It was on his list but one of those things tourists did rather than Londoners. He watched the torchlight of officers as they fanned out along the paths that crisscrossed the park. The noise from the busy streets nearby rolled constant in the background. Access to the park was closed to the public. In daylight they would start a fingertip search, for now they were just looking for a two-year-old boy who had managed to give his father the slip.
    Carter stood tapping his right foot, without realizing, as the feeling of anxiety, the pressing need to act, made every second he was waiting feel like an hour wasted.
    He pressed his hands deep into the pockets of his dark-grey overcoat as he focused on each one of the officers. Willis came across to join him, laying the map out on the floor of the van.
    ‘The last sighting of Samuel was in his buggy at ten minutes past four when he was seen leaving the Royal Observatory with his father Toby.’ Carter addressed the hundred officers who stood around him.
    Willis picked up the photo pack prepared for the officers and handed it out among them. ‘It is crucial that we find him fast,’ Carter said as he waited until all the officers had the pack. ‘You now have a photo of Samuel. He was wearing a navy all-in-one suit, which has two large snowflakes appliquéd on the front. This is distinctive and unusual; the maker’s label is Ski-Doo from the States. There are matching mittens, label just inside the cuff. He’s also wearing a cream-coloured knitted bobble hat and red snow boots from GAP. He has blond hair, blue eyes.’ Carter looked around and made sure each officer made eye contact. ‘We know how fast a kid’s hair can be dyed, how much a change of clothes and buggy can throw us off, but check every small child you see. Be polite but be insistent. Samuel’s only differentiating feature is a small raised birthmark the size of a five pence piece beside his left eyebrow. Make-up would have to be quite thick to cover it. We need to find this little boy. If he’s been dumped he won’t last the night in these temperatures.’
    Carter pointed to the map layout on the floor in the back of the van.
    ‘We have divided the route into sections. You will be searching the section just west of the Cutty Sark DLR station – the officer in charge of your unit will divide you into teams and I’ll hand you over to them in a minute to explain in more detail. But before I do I just want to make sure each one of you understands – no stone left unturned. No bin unchecked, every space where a child could be hidden has to be examined. Remember, Samuel is smaller than your average two-year-old. He could have been squeezed into a very small space. I want you climbing walls and getting under cars. I want every inch checked. Any problems getting access to an area of interest, alert your commander straight away and we’ll get officers there to assist you. Good luck . . .’
    Carter picked up his case and he and Willis walked across to his car, the black BMW parked on the approach to the park. Carter started the engine and reversed at speed.
    ‘We need to throw everything at this, Eb.’ She nodded. She was deep in thought. Carter was used to being the one who chatted. ‘The father’s story is too vague,’ he continued. ‘Sensitive type, isn’t he? Doesn’t say a lot. He’s really vague when it comes to pinpointing his movements; there’s a missing period of almost forty minutes after he leaves the Observatory. Have you ever been there?’
    ‘Once.’
    ‘I’m impressed. Was it with that boyfriend who liked train sets?’
    She didn’t rise to it; she’d heard it before. Instead, she reached into her backpack and pulled out her phone. Carter continued, ‘First he attends his famous dad’s funeral, then his