We believe the girl, Julie Hudson – she’s twelve, nearly thirteen, tall for her age, skinny, shoulder-length fair hair, with a dyed red streak – disappeared from the school-uniform floor.’
‘And lingerie,’ interjected Butcher.
‘I’m sorry?’
‘Uniforms and women’s underwear are on the same floor.’
‘Yes,’ said Hanlon, ‘of course. Interesting arrangement, by the way.’
‘We thought it would help mums who were sorting out uniforms for their kids,’ Butcher explained, stroking his beard. ‘This way they’d be able to get the boring stuff done and dusted, and then treat themselves to a little luxury or two.’
‘Underwear is viewed as a luxury?’
‘We’re talking fine, top-of-the-range lingerie. This is not Woolies. The initiative has already paid dividends: the lingerie takings have almost doubled in the last month.’
‘I can give you some photos of Julie Hudson to circulate to all those who were working yesterday,’ Hanlon said, eager to get the discussion back to Julie.
‘On Saturdays we employ a lot of casuals and part-timers,’ continued Butcher. ‘In the current market it makes sense. Full-time staff are a huge burden for a company our size. That list you want might take a while.’
‘Not too long, I hope,’ said Hanlon. ‘Everyone will need to see the picture. And that includes all cleaners, canteen staff, loading-bay attendants, you name it. Might jog someone’s memory.’
‘I’ll do my best.’
‘What about your security arrangements, then?’ pressed Hanlon. The chair was killing him, worse than the new orange seats at the station. He half wondered whether it was a faulty item from the children’s department. ‘Store detectives?’
‘Not in today. Obviously no point on a Sunday, with the store being closed to the public.’
Hanlon was finding Butcher increasingly obtuse. ‘Yesterday is when I’m talking about. How many – names and levels of experience?’
Butcher fidgeted uneasily in his chair. ‘There were two on duty, I believe. Keith Nelson, our full-time store detective (been with us for years), and Blake Richards, who’s on temporary loan from Security Guard. Good solid chap, though. I’d hire him if we had the funds.’
Hanlon was incredulous. ‘Two … and one of those not even a full-time member of staff? This is a multi-storey department store, the biggest retail concern in Denton!’ The pride of Denton was how his mother, and practically everyone else for that matter, still referred to Aster’s.
‘Christmas might not be too far off,’ said Butcher stridently, ‘but we are in the middle of a recession. Maggie will pull us through, of that I’m in no doubt. Have a lot of respect for that woman. Give her time, that’s what I say, and she’ll transform this country.’ Butcher was becoming increasingly animated.
Fortunately for Hanlon, who hated talking politics, Frost now walked straight into the room, saying, ‘You the boss, then?’
‘Yes,’ said Butcher, remaining seated behind his desk. ‘I’m the store manager of Aster’s.’
Frost didn’t offer his hand. ‘We are seriously concerned about the safety of a twelve-year-old girl, last seen in this store.’
‘I don’t doubt it,’ said Butcher, ‘but I’m still not sure what help we can give. If she’s run away, it’s hardly our fault, is it? Aster’s has numerous exits.’
‘Who said anything about running away?’ said Frost, now looking at Hanlon.
‘Well, I presumed …’
‘We want to know who might have seen Julie and her mother yesterday afternoon,’ said Hanlon, rising to his feet at last. He couldn’t remain in that stupid chair a second longer.
‘And we particularly want to know if anyone saw Julie on her own, or even with someone else,’ said Frost.
‘A man, say,’ said Hanlon. He looked at Frost. But Frost had turned towards the window and was lighting a cigarette.
‘Where would your store detectives have been positioned?’ said
‘And lingerie,’ interjected Butcher.
‘I’m sorry?’
‘Uniforms and women’s underwear are on the same floor.’
‘Yes,’ said Hanlon, ‘of course. Interesting arrangement, by the way.’
‘We thought it would help mums who were sorting out uniforms for their kids,’ Butcher explained, stroking his beard. ‘This way they’d be able to get the boring stuff done and dusted, and then treat themselves to a little luxury or two.’
‘Underwear is viewed as a luxury?’
‘We’re talking fine, top-of-the-range lingerie. This is not Woolies. The initiative has already paid dividends: the lingerie takings have almost doubled in the last month.’
‘I can give you some photos of Julie Hudson to circulate to all those who were working yesterday,’ Hanlon said, eager to get the discussion back to Julie.
‘On Saturdays we employ a lot of casuals and part-timers,’ continued Butcher. ‘In the current market it makes sense. Full-time staff are a huge burden for a company our size. That list you want might take a while.’
‘Not too long, I hope,’ said Hanlon. ‘Everyone will need to see the picture. And that includes all cleaners, canteen staff, loading-bay attendants, you name it. Might jog someone’s memory.’
‘I’ll do my best.’
‘What about your security arrangements, then?’ pressed Hanlon. The chair was killing him, worse than the new orange seats at the station. He half wondered whether it was a faulty item from the children’s department. ‘Store detectives?’
‘Not in today. Obviously no point on a Sunday, with the store being closed to the public.’
Hanlon was finding Butcher increasingly obtuse. ‘Yesterday is when I’m talking about. How many – names and levels of experience?’
Butcher fidgeted uneasily in his chair. ‘There were two on duty, I believe. Keith Nelson, our full-time store detective (been with us for years), and Blake Richards, who’s on temporary loan from Security Guard. Good solid chap, though. I’d hire him if we had the funds.’
Hanlon was incredulous. ‘Two … and one of those not even a full-time member of staff? This is a multi-storey department store, the biggest retail concern in Denton!’ The pride of Denton was how his mother, and practically everyone else for that matter, still referred to Aster’s.
‘Christmas might not be too far off,’ said Butcher stridently, ‘but we are in the middle of a recession. Maggie will pull us through, of that I’m in no doubt. Have a lot of respect for that woman. Give her time, that’s what I say, and she’ll transform this country.’ Butcher was becoming increasingly animated.
Fortunately for Hanlon, who hated talking politics, Frost now walked straight into the room, saying, ‘You the boss, then?’
‘Yes,’ said Butcher, remaining seated behind his desk. ‘I’m the store manager of Aster’s.’
Frost didn’t offer his hand. ‘We are seriously concerned about the safety of a twelve-year-old girl, last seen in this store.’
‘I don’t doubt it,’ said Butcher, ‘but I’m still not sure what help we can give. If she’s run away, it’s hardly our fault, is it? Aster’s has numerous exits.’
‘Who said anything about running away?’ said Frost, now looking at Hanlon.
‘Well, I presumed …’
‘We want to know who might have seen Julie and her mother yesterday afternoon,’ said Hanlon, rising to his feet at last. He couldn’t remain in that stupid chair a second longer.
‘And we particularly want to know if anyone saw Julie on her own, or even with someone else,’ said Frost.
‘A man, say,’ said Hanlon. He looked at Frost. But Frost had turned towards the window and was lighting a cigarette.
‘Where would your store detectives have been positioned?’ said
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