Diamonds in the Dust Read Free Page B

report your mother’s disappearance to the police.’
    ‘We know that.’ Tom was immediately on his feet, agitated. ‘But it’s only been one day and we don’t want anyone sticking their noses in our business just yet. If that’s the only suggestion you’ve got then we’ll find someone else to help us!’
    Ah, the boy had a quick temper, Stan noted, but it was also clear that all three of them were intelligent. They must be frightened and confused, but they hadn’t panicked.
    Tom held out his hand to Lily. ‘Come on, we’re wasting our time here.’
    Stan pulled himself out of the chair, and even leaning on the stick, he towered over Tom. ‘No you’re not. I’ll do what I can for you. I’ve still got friends at the local station. They know I’m desperate to get back so theywon’t think it odd if I drop in to see them from time to time, eager to hear about cases they’re working on. Whatever’s happening in this area goes through them. But if she doesn’t turn up in two or three days, the police will have to be told.’
    ‘You won’t say anything about our mum for the moment, will you?’ Dora looked worried at his insistence that the disappearance be reported soon.
    ‘I won’t break my promise to you. I’ll listen, and if anything seems odd, I’ll investigate it on my own. They’ll never know I’m only interested in one person.’ ‘We’ll help,’ Dora suggested, eyeing the stick he was leaning on. ‘You don’t find it easy getting around.’
    ‘I’ll manage.’ He grimaced. ‘The exercise will do me good, but I’ll ask if I need you to do things for me now and again.’
    ‘I was going to the hospitals tomorrow. It’s my half day off.’
    ‘You leave that to me. I want the three of you to act as normal, and don’t do anything to draw attention to the fact that your mother isn’t there.’ He turned to Lily, who was examining the dog’s head on his stick. ‘Now, young lady, if your mother does come home, I want you to rush round here and let me know at once. Can you do that?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’ She rested the stick back against his chair again and gave a wan smile. ‘That’s pretty.’
    ‘It was my father’s.’ He glanced at the boy and saw that he had now calmed down. ‘Rest assured, I’ll do everything I can for you. And I can be trusted, Tom.’
    Tom nodded. ‘Sorry I lost my temper, sir. We don’tunderstand why Mum hasn’t come home, or why she told us lies about where she worked. It doesn’t make sense.’
    ‘It’s a mystery, I agree. Have you been through your mother’s things?’
    ‘Oh, no.’ Dora was horrified. ‘We never touch Mum’s room.’
    ‘You’ll have to now, Dora.’ Stan spoke gently. ‘There might be papers, or something there to tell where she went every night. And I’ll need a photograph of your mother, if you’ve got one.’
    ‘Yes, of course, we’ll let you have that in the morning, and anything else we find.’ Dora got to her feet. ‘It’s your bedtime, Lily. Thank Mr Crawford for seeing us and listening to our troubles.’
    ‘Thank you.’ Lily held on to her sister’s hand and gazed up at him. ‘It was my idea to come to you. We haven’t got anyone else, you see.’
    ‘I’m glad you did.’ Much to Stan’s surprise he meant it. There was a bubble of excitement and anticipation running through him, and he hadn’t felt anything like that for a long time. ‘You sleep well, and you never know, she might be home in the morning. But if she isn’t, we’ll find out what’s happened to her.’
    At the door, Tom whispered, ‘It doesn’t look good, does it? No way would Mum leave us unless she was …’
    Stan placed a comforting hand on the boy’s shoulder to stop him finishing the sentence. ‘Let’s not jump to any conclusions. It’s too early yet.’
    ‘No, you’re quite right, sir. Hope we can find her soon, though.’
    ‘We’ll do our best. And the name’s Stan.’
    Tom gave him a grateful smile, and then hurried