At the Dying of the Year by Chris Nickson Read Free Book Online Page A

his head.
    â€˜Do the others look up to you?’ the Constable asked. ‘The lads and lasses?’
    â€˜Some,’ the boy acknowledged.
    â€˜You look after them?’
    â€˜If I can.’ He shrugged and shook his head. ‘I can’t always.’
    Nottingham understood. There was only so much one person could do. ‘How long have you been out here?’
    Caleb squatted on his heels. The fear had left his face, bringing an innocence that made him seem younger. ‘Five year, near as owt.’
    â€˜The ones who died, were they with you?’
    The boy closed his eyes and nodded. ‘Until they went.’
    â€˜What were their names?’
    â€˜The lass was called Alison, and the lads were Mark and Luke.’ He picked at a large scab on the back of his hand. ‘Luke was the little one.’
    â€˜When did they go?’
    â€˜More than a week.’ The boy shrugged. ‘They didn’t come back one night.’
    â€˜Did you look for them?’
    Caleb raised empty eyes. ‘Why?’ he asked. ‘I knew what had happened.’
    â€˜What was that?’
    â€˜They’d gone with him.’
    Nottingham glanced up sharply. ‘Him?’ He could feel his heart thumping hard. He breathed slowly.
    â€˜He comes round offering money and food.’ The boy turned his head and spat. ‘Even somewhere to live sometimes.’
    He knew. There had been men like that when he was young. He’d seen the desperate go with them and come back silent, the tears dried on their faces.
    â€˜Tell me about him.’
    â€˜He started coming back in summer,’ Caleb remembered bleakly. ‘I warned them all. No one gives owt for nowt. Not to us.’
    â€˜Do you know his name?’
    â€˜Allus called himself Gabriel.’
    The Constable had never heard the name in Leeds before. ‘What did he look like?’ He tried to keep the urgency out of his voice.
    â€˜Like he had money, the way they always do,’ the boy said angrily.
    â€˜That doesn’t help me find him,’ he prodded gently.
    â€˜You come looking now,’ Caleb spat. ‘You didn’t do owt when Jane went with him and never came back. Or David.’
    â€˜I didn’t know,’ Nottingham told him humbly.
    â€˜Aye, and would you have cared?’ The boy stood and paced to the other side of the yard.
    â€˜I’d have cared,’ the Constable answered quietly. ‘I’d have done exactly what I’m doing now.’
    Caleb turned and sneered. ‘Aye, right.’
    â€˜Mark, Alison and Luke?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜I want to find the man who did all that to them and to Jane and David and I want to see him hang. I’m sorry about the others, but when I don’t know something’s happened, I can’t do anything about it.’ He paused. ‘Now, are you going to help me?’
    â€˜The lad says this Gabriel is big. Taller than me and broader.’ He looked at the deputy.
    â€˜It’s not much help, is it, boss?’ Sedgwick asked. ‘What sort of age?’
    â€˜Old is as close as he could come,’ Nottingham replied. The word could mean anything. ‘Always wears a good wig, dresses in a clean grey coat and breeches every time. Offers money or food. Even a place to stay, as if he was taking them in. Does that mean anything to you?’
    The deputy shook his head. The Constable shifted awkwardly on the chair. His bones were still chilled from sitting so long on the cold stone and he tried to find a comfortable position.
    â€˜Gabriel’s been around since the summer. These aren’t the first he’s taken, either. There are two others that Caleb mentioned.’
    â€˜Fuck!’ Sedgwick slammed his fist down on the desk in frustration. ‘I’m sorry, boss. I never heard anything.’
    â€˜I know,’ Nottingham said sympathetically. ‘No one’s blaming you. This bastard’s sly,