Blazing Obsession by Dai Henley Page B

this before. I expected more of a response from the detectives but I guessed they’d seen many cases of abused women in the past.
    After an hour of questioning, note taking and working through a checklist of documents running to two pages, the DC took them to be uploaded into a computer.
    DS Evans leant back in his chair and said, “Since Mr Burrows hasn’t formally asked to take the boy away, this looks like a clear case of abduction, which is a criminal offence. And we can’t yet rule out the possibility that your son’s been taken overseas.” He ran his tongue around the inside of his mouth each time he made a point, a habit I’d noticed earlier.
    Lynne let out a gasp.
    â€œAnd the fact it’s been now, what …” glancing at his watch, “around ten hours since he wasn’t taken to school, as arranged, and almost thirty hours since the last sighting of him, is of concern.”
    My impatience with the process kicked in. I resisted blurting out
, “Of concern
hardly covers the magnitude of the problem, does it?”
    â€œThe eyewitness account about your ex-husband and the boy being seen with a suitcase and rucksack is a big issue. We’ll need to get officers onto that immediately. I’ll go to Burrow’s apartment block and take a statement from the landlord and from anyone else who may have seen them.”
    Lynne interrupted. “Why are you so sure they’ve gone abroad?”
    â€œWell, I’m not a hundred percent sure, but you told me about your trip to umm …?” He looked at DC Ashburton, who’d returned to the room. “Orlando,” she said.
    â€œAh, yes, Orlando, Florida. To visit Disneyworld. Sounds like it could be the likely bait for the boy to agree to go with his father.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do about it?” I said sharply, mindful of time rattling by.
    The DS ignored my exasperation. “We’ll contact the National Ports Office and request an all ports warning. Mind you, if they’ve already left the country it’s a waste of time. I’ll get officers to check the passenger lists on flights out of the London airports to Orlando starting on Saturday. If that draws a blank we’ll widen our search.”
    Lynne sobbed again.
    â€œWe’ll also file a Missing Person Report on the Police National Computer. Every police station in the UK will have photos, descriptions and the last-known whereabouts of your ex-husband and the boy.”
    Turning over a page of his notebook and scanning it, he said, “Oh, and with the eyewitness evidence we have and the time that’s elapsed since the last sighting we’ll be able to get a search warrant for your ex-husband’s flat. I’d be keen to see if there’s any evidence suggesting what his plans are. I’ll conduct the search first thing tomorrow.”
    â€œIs there anything we should be doing?” I said, keen to show Lynne I, too, desperately wanted to get this resolved.
    â€œYou could think about anywhere else they might have gone. And, of course, if you hear anything, please call me.”
    â€œWhat are the chances of getting Georgie back quickly?” I asked.
    Before answering, he did that thing with his tongue again.
    â€œHonestly, it’s hard to say. But tracing someone these days is a whole lot easier. Everyone leaves an electronic footprint. We’ll get cooperation from the credit card companies and mobile phone operators, if he has one, to locate them. Finding them may not be that difficult, but this is not the main problem.”
    â€œWhat is, then?”
    â€œIf they’ve gone abroad, it’s going through the red tape and the courts that takes the time. Once we know for sure, I suggest you get hold of a family solicitor experienced in these aspects as soon as possible. DC Ashburton can give you a list to choose from.”
    Sitting back, forcing the front legs of his chair off the