The Wilds by Kit Tinsley Page A

personal connection to that hack of a reporter.
    ‘Jason?’ she said turning around. There was no denying she was doing her best to hide it, but Pearce was a good enough detective to know there was still some feeling between her and Flynn. She saw the disapproval in his eyes. ‘He’s not my friend, sir. We just went to school together. You’re the one who...’
    ‘He’s a thorn in my side,’ Pearce said, cutting her off. ‘He’s still prattling on about his theory.’
    Booth looked at him. It was as though she was trying to see whether there was any point talking to him, or if he was in one of those moods where he would just dismiss anything she said.
    ‘Sir,’ she said. ‘Perhaps we should make a statement.’
    Pearce shook his head firmly.
    ‘Not until we have some evidence,’ he said.
    ‘But someone is going to notice these sooner or later,’ she said, pulling back her jacket to reveal that she, too, wore a gun holstered on her belt.
    Pearce smiled at her and shook his head. Ah the innocence of youth, he thought to himself. Booth was still new enough on the force to believe that the general public were actually aware of anything.
    ‘You’d be surprised how little people actually notice, Booth,’ he said. ‘Our job would be a lot easier if people actually paid more attention to little details. However, they don’t. That’s why half our E-fit pictures end up looking the same. People just don’t pay attention.’
    Booth looked at him. It was clear that she was dismayed at cynicism, but he knew that she would get to that stage sooner or later.
    ‘Now go and get the boy ready for interview,’ Pearce said.
    ‘Yes, sir,’ Booth said. This time he let her leave the room.
    He closed the folder, it wasn’t even an active case, not that Booth had noticed, because people don’t pay attention to the little details. He opened the drawer and pulled the bottle of whiskey out once more. He needed another drink before he interviewed the boy.
     
     
    Jason walked into the office of The Darton Chronicle to find Linda sat at her desk. She looked at him and tapped her watch.
    ‘What time do you call this?’ she said.
    ‘Yeah, sorry,’ Jason said. ‘I was out doing some field work.’
    He looked around the office. Linda was the only one there. This wasn’t right. Mark Rodgers, one of their part time reporters, was supposed to be in today.
    ‘Where’s Mark?’ he asked.
    ‘He called in sick,’ she said, frowning. ‘I’ve been on my own all morning.’
    ‘Come on, Linda,’ Jason said, smiling. ‘You know you’re the only one who could run this place on your own.’
    She laughed, that beautiful, hearty laugh of hers.
    ‘That’s true,’ she said. ‘So what was so important it stopped you coming in this morning?
    ‘Missing persons,’ Jason said.
    Linda’s smile faded and was replaced with a look of concern.
    ‘Oh God,’ she said. ‘Another one?’
    ‘Two actually,’ Jason replied. ‘Both went missing within the last two nights. A guy in his early thirties and a seventeen-year-old girl. I kind of know the missing guy, not well, but still it’s a shock. I went to see his brother and had a run in with Pearce.’
    Linda shook her head at him.
    ‘Not again, Jason,’ she said. ‘I told you last night to be careful of him.’
    ‘He’s hiding something,’ Jason said. ‘He’s kept the missing girl’s boyfriend in for questioning all night, when he was the one who reported her missing. Apparently he heard her screaming out on the marsh, but couldn’t find her. Pearce is acting like she did a runner on him, according to my source.’
    Linda shrugged.
    ‘Maybe she did?’ she said, playing devil’s advocate.
    ‘It doesn’t make any sense,’ he said. ‘Something about this whole thing just seems off.’
    ‘You’re always looking for a conspiracy,’ she said. ‘You’re never happy until you find one.’
    ‘And I usually do, don’t I?’ Jason said. ‘Besides, my source in the