No Place for Nathan by Casey Watson Read Free Book Online

wait.
    â€˜That was the police,’ he said, replacing the handset. ‘They’re on their way. And yes,’ he said, correctly interpreting my expression, ‘I did get the report you left for me on Friday. So I called the emergency duty team at social services, as I couldn’t get through to Martin, and they told me to report the disclosure to the police.’
    â€˜That’s good to hear,’ I said.
    â€˜Well, yes, it is, if we can make it happen. They’re on their way now. Coming up to talk to Nathan about this man he called Michael – he was already on his way here when they called at home, apparently. Have you seen him yet?’
    I explained that I had, and what he’d told me. Gary nodded. ‘That figures. We’ve just been saying as much ourselves. The father is, potentially, the fly in the ointment. We don’t know what he knows or doesn’t know about this character, but they’re worried that if he
is
involved, he’ll try to get to Nathan before they do.’
    â€˜What about the mother?’ I asked. ‘Nathan never talks about his mother. Do you know anything more about her?’
    â€˜Only that she’s going to be no help to anyone. She has severe learning difficulties and, according to Nathan’s old primary school, she’s barely ever been a presence. Hardly in the house at all, apparently. Just wanders around the town centre all day and often doesn’t go home till Nathan is already in bed. She did turn up at parents’ evenings, occasionally, which is something, but rarely, if ever, spoke – left all that to her husband.’
    I was just thinking what a sad and depressing state of affairs it all was when, as if on cue, my mobile phone rang. It was the school office to say that Mr Greaves was on his way to the school to collect Nathan because he had a doctor’s appointment.
    I told the secretary I’d bring him down and Gary and I both rolled our eyes. It seemed to be playing out exactly as we’d expected.
    â€˜I’ll stall him,’ Gary said. ‘Keep him talking for as long as possible. But why don’t you take Nathan up for a trip to the library anyway. And take your time about it. It’s a bit of a way to get back from; know what I mean?’
    It was a little unorthodox, admittedly. But, then, allegations of abuse required decisive action and, though we had no right to stop Nathan’s father from collecting him, if Nathan wasn’t brought down till the police had arrived too, we could perhaps achieve more and, crucially, achieve it quicker. Who knew, after all, now he was aware we might be onto him, whether Nathan’s father would bring him back to school at all?
    It wasn’t to be, though. I hurried back to the Unit, while Gary headed down to reception, and though our little ruse did the trick in that the police arrived shortly after – and before Nathan’s father showed up – it proved to be pointless in any case.
    Yes, we managed to get him in a room with the police officer, but that was all. As soon as Nathan saw the uniform, he clammed up completely, apart from saying to me, in a voice that was 100 per cent Nathan, ‘I’m not telling nothing, Miss. I told you.’
    Where was Jenny when we needed her?
I thought, as I sat there, unable to do anything, while Nathan remained stiff-lipped and terrified – he wouldn’t even speak to confirm his name. I felt utterly frustrated, but I knew that Nathan would have to speak freely and without coercion, otherwise nothing he said could be used anyway.
    Mr Greaves arrived shortly after, angry to see the police there and generally stroppy, but without evidence or testimony from Nathan himself, we could do nothing. And as I took Nathan to him I felt again like I was delivering a lamb to the slaughter, especially when Mr Greaves grinned at me.
    He spoke to me as well, just as he took Nathan’s hand. ‘Never