The doors of the police car were opening. Brendan, with acute fear, went over to the two officers.

‘Hey there,’ he said, and felt an idiot.

‘You live here?’ the first policeman asked. They were both young. The second one, standing a metre behind and trying to act tough, had pimples covering his chin.

‘My dad lives here,’ Brendan said.

‘Oh yeah? You know where he is?’

‘He’s not home?’

‘He didn’t answer when we knocked.’

Brendan pretended to think on this. ‘Guess he’s out then.’

‘You know where?’

‘He hangs out at the pub sometimes.’

‘In Newbury?’

‘No. Darlington.’

‘Where’s Darlington?’

‘You would’ve driven through it on your way here.’

‘The place with one milk bar and a pub?’

‘Yeah. Just past the cemetery, going from Newbury to out here.’

‘That’s a town?’

‘That’s Darlington.’

Both policemen laughed. The first said, ‘Guess that’s all you need.’

Brendan tried to smile. ‘If he’s not home I’ll try him there, then.’

‘Alright. Cheers, mate. Hey,’ the officer said, and put his hand on Brendan’s shoulder to stop him turning. ‘You know what’s happening with him?’

‘No.’ Brendan said.

‘You know Wornkin?’

Brendan nodded, remembered her face as Judah struck her with his boots. ‘The police sergeant.’

‘She was being cagey about the whole thing, didn’t tell us much,’ the officer said. He added, ‘We just got word, too, over the radio that Caleb— your brother?—escaped from Boodyarn a few hours ago. The car he took is that one just there’—he nodded—‘so he’s probably taken the old man’s car and bolted. Anyway. Just maybe watch out for your dad. He might be in trouble. We might go look for him at that pub ourselves, actually.’

‘I’ll leave you to it, then.’

‘You should tag along, mate. Help him see a friendly face.’

Brendan looked back at the car. ‘I only came to see him quick. I’m in a bit of a hurry.’

‘Yeah? Where to?’

‘A party. Got my mates in the car.’

He nodded at the car. Martin, for his part, raised a hand, smiling.

‘Alright,’ the officer said. ‘You don’t know where Caleb is, do you? You haven’t seen him?’

‘We don’t exactly get along. If he’s out he won’t come see me.’

‘Alright. If you say so. Contact the police, obviously, if you see him or hear anything, okay? We’ll go check out Darlington. Not sure what we’ll do if we can’t find him.’

Brendan nodded. ‘Thanks for the work, officer.’

He walked back to the car, looking at the windows at the front of the house, hoping to catch sight of a hand, a face, any movement behind the curtains. But he saw nothing.

He climbed in.

Martin said, ‘Well?’

‘Well, he’s not home, at least.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘The cops’re sure.’

Martin said. ‘Guess we’ll go see his son.’

‘Can’t do that, either. Caleb’s run off.’

‘Run off?’

‘Boodyarn’s minimum security,’ Brendan said. ‘So he’s piss-bolted.’

Martin sat back. Ran his hands over his face. ‘Guess that leaves William Kelly from the visitor’s log.’