wait.
âThat was the police,â he said, replacing the handset. âTheyâre on their way. And yes,â he said, correctly interpreting my expression, âI did get the report you left for me on Friday. So I called the emergency duty team at social services, as I couldnât get through to Martin, and they told me to report the disclosure to the police.â
âThatâs good to hear,â I said.
âWell, yes, it is, if we can make it happen. Theyâre on their way now. Coming up to talk to Nathan about this man he called Michael â he was already on his way here when they called at home, apparently. Have you seen him yet?â
I explained that I had, and what heâd told me. Gary nodded. âThat figures. Weâve just been saying as much ourselves. The father is, potentially, the fly in the ointment. We donât know what he knows or doesnât know about this character, but theyâre worried that if he
is
involved, heâll try to get to Nathan before they do.â
âWhat about the mother?â I asked. âNathan never talks about his mother. Do you know anything more about her?â
âOnly that sheâs going to be no help to anyone. She has severe learning difficulties and, according to Nathanâs old primary school, sheâs barely ever been a presence. Hardly in the house at all, apparently. Just wanders around the town centre all day and often doesnât go home till Nathan is already in bed. She did turn up at parentsâ evenings, occasionally, which is something, but rarely, if ever, spoke â left all that to her husband.â
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 doctorâs appointment.
I told the secretary Iâd bring him down and Gary and I both rolled our eyes. It seemed to be playing out exactly as weâd expected.
âIâll stall him,â Gary said. âKeep him talking for as long as possible. But why donât you take Nathan up for a trip to the library anyway. And take your time about it. Itâs a bit of a way to get back from; know what I mean?â
It was a little unorthodox, admittedly. But, then, allegations of abuse required decisive action and, though we had no right to stop Nathanâs father from collecting him, if Nathan wasnât 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 Nathanâs father would bring him back to school at all?
It wasnât 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 â and before Nathanâs father showed up â 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, âIâm not telling nothing, Miss. I told you.â
Where was Jenny when we needed her?
I thought, as I sat there, unable to do anything, while Nathan remained stiff-lipped and terrified â he wouldnât 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 Nathanâs hand. âNever