‘So far,’ he said, ‘we have two deaths. Capstick was crushed to death by a tractor and trailer. That’s child number one. Hutchison drowned in slurry. That’s child number two. Those are the first two deaths in the film. In total five children die, if you don’t count the quite frankly horrendous roll call of death at the end.’
Jenny said, ‘So you think someone is killing off John’s gang like the kids in the film?’
‘We’ve got six lads in John’s gang,’ Harry said. ‘Two are already dead, killed in the same fashion and order as the kids in Apache. That gives us four others to find before anyone else gets hurt. And if the film is anything to go by, with only one survivor, we can’t rule out that we also now have four suspects. Though to be honest, I think it’s three, as Nick’s movements don’t fit with any of it. But we can’t be completely certain, not yet.’
‘But why wait till now?’ Jim asked. ‘What’s the point? And why do it like this?’
Harry looked to Matt. ‘Can you remember what Nick said about what it was like at school?’
‘Only that it was rough,’ Matt said. ‘And their little gang used to play games a lot.’
‘Any specific games?’
Matt thought for a moment. ‘Kick the Can? Oh, and Cowboys and Indians, a little politically incorrect now, really, isn’t it? And something kids these days wouldn’t even know about. I used to have a great little cowboy outfit myself.’
‘Now there’s an image we could’ve all done without,’ Jim laughed.
Matt said, ‘Nick also said that they were always the Indians because they were John’s favourite. Maybe that’s because of this film, seeing as they watched it, right?’
‘Right, so I’ve the start of a theory,’ Harry began. ‘Looking through the school files, we found a few things, mentions of John’s gang, bullying, that kind of thing. And there was something in there, an event, with John and his pals all mentioned, but then the incident, whatever it was, all crossed out.’
‘So what was it?’ Jim asked. ‘What happened?’
‘Liz tried to find out,’ Harry said. ‘It’s a long time ago, folk can’t remember much, or are just refusing to tell us, but we think there might have been an accident of some kind, but that’s a wild guess. Like I said, Liz asked some of the people from that class if they could remember anything but didn’t get any details.’
‘So what now?’ Jaydn asked.
‘What if John and his gang were influenced by the movie you all just watched?’ Harry asked. ‘What if they played Cowboys and Indians a lot because of it? They’re farming kids, right? So they’d have associated with the kids in the film. Maybe even saw themselves as the Apaches? And what if their games got a bit rough and someone from way back then ended up in a bad way and is now after some payback?’
‘There’s a hell of a lot of what-ifs in that,’ Gordy sighed. ‘And the idea that someone could resent a bit of bullying that much, and from all those years ago? I don’t know . . .’
‘Neither do I,’ Harry said, ‘but it’s all I can come up with when I put everything together.’
‘So it’s someone local, then,’ Jim said. ‘Someone from the school back then?’
‘I guess so,’ Harry said. ‘Possibly. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s just a theory. Whatever, we need to get on this, and now!’ He rose to his feet. ‘I want everyone from the class that John was in contacted again, properly this time. I’m not sure how many Liz managed to speak to. We need to know where they are, who they are, their movements, what they can remember from school. And I want Nicholas Ellis, Simon Swales, Jack Iveson, and Ian Smith found! Jim?’
Jim was on his feet in a beat.
‘You and me, we’re off to see what we can find out about this mysterious incident. Matt?’
Matt glanced up. ‘Boss?’
‘Keys!’
Chapter Twenty-Six
Outside, Harry raced over to the police Land Rover, Jim on his heels. He jumped into the vehicle and kicked the engine into life as Jim clambered up and in beside him.
‘Where are we going?’ Jim asked.
‘Open that file,’ Harry said. ‘Skip through until you find the section I mentioned, the one that’s all scribbled out.’
Harry slipped the gear lever into first then wheel spun out of the parking space and onto the road.
‘Didn’t think it could do that,’ Harry muttered to himself as the steering wheel spun in his hands and he accelerated down The Holme and onto Penn Lane.
‘Found it,’ Jim said. ‘Now what am I looking at?’
‘The date,’ Harry said, a few seconds later indicating left and pulling off the road into the car park for the local surgery. ‘Something happened on that day. No idea what it was and like I said, Liz has asked around a bit, but got nowhere.’
‘Can’t say I know anything about it either,’ Jim said. ‘And I’ve lived here all my life. Everyone talks about what winters were like way back, but that’s about it.’
‘Exactly,’ Harry said. ‘So what’s that crossed out bit? All a bit too mysterious if you ask me. Come on. And bring that file with you.’
Harry was out of the Land Rover and striding across the car park to the main reception. Inside, he walked up to the main desk, pushing himself ahead of the not insubstantial queue, immediately aware that a cloud of muttered curses was now snapping at his heels.
‘I’m DCI Grimm,’ Harry said to the man on the reception desk, flashing his ID. ‘I need to see Doctor Smith, urgently.’
‘Then you’ll wait patiently like everyone else,’ said the receptionist, a man whose ginger hair was edging towards bright orange, his face a picture of forced, practised politeness.
‘I’m not here to make an appointment,’ Harry replied. ‘This is police business.’
‘And this is a doctor’s surgery and as you can see there are plenty of people
