The Offence

Oh, God! Oh, my God!

Constables Turner, Davies, Cunningham and O'Connell,

report to the station office immediately.

Detective Sergeant Jessard, report to the detective chief inspector's office.

The detective constable on standby, report to Detective Inspector Cameron.

Constables Turner, Davies, Cunningham and O'Connell, report to the station office.

Sergeant.

Here.

- See you. Bye! - Bye.

Waste of time keeping them out here.

They wouldn't know Christmas from Pancake Tuesday.

Maybe it frightens him, knowing we're here.

We've got him so frightened! Bloody paralytic.

How many kids has he had? Three of them, and not a bloody smell.

We've got the bugger so frightened, he'll make it four before the week's out.

I had a chat with Kenny James.

Waste of time talking to Kenny. It's not his line of country, young kids.

Flashes a bit maybe. Having them off? Never in a million years.

- It doesn't hurt, talking to him. - You must be bloody desperate.

- On the house, Mr Johnson. - We'll pay.

My turn.

- It's a while since I saw Kenny. - He's been away.

- Not bloody long enough. - Sergeant.

- Yes, lad. What is it? - There's another kiddie missing.

He's so bloody frightened!

Most days, the girl walks home across this common.

Seems likely she did today. No reason why she shouldn't.

- No reason we know about. - The parents are not able to help.

Where were they when she left school?

She left school with two of her friends.

- They went home with their mothers. - Never bloody learn.

- Janie walked towards the common. - Nobody tried to stop her?

- "Come home with us"? - Can we get on with this?

- The longer we stay here talking... - Do we know what she looks like?

Frank, doesn't she look like the Corder kid, the first one he got hold of?

- I don't think so. - Looks to me like they could be sisters.

She was an only child. Spent a lot of time on her own.

- Too bloody much. - Any questions?

Right, let's get on.

All right.

It's all right. I don't want to hurt you.

Over here!

No, no.

No! Go away!

No!

- It's all right. - No!

No, no, no. Janie.

Janie, don't. It's all right.

No, Janie. Please, no. No. No, no.

Janie.

Yes. No, no, no, no.

All right.

That's it.

All right?

Make a way, men.

Make a line, men. Stand back.

Johnny!

No, no, no!

OK. OK. OK.

No! No. No, please.

No! No!

- Where are you going? - Maybe she'll talk.

She's in no state!

Once they get her into hospital, you won't get near her.

Wait for me. I'll send someone with you.

Policewoman, would you go along?

Don't, please! No. You won't hurt me?

I won't hurt you, Janie. I don't want to hurt you.

Well, it does hurt.

It does hurt!

Do you have to? Can't you wait? Give us a chance.

Sergeant, Mr Lawson says you should get back to the station.

- He wants to see you. - The kid is here.

...go immediately to the incident control room.

Constables on standby, go to the parade room...

Well, this man approached the girl. He seemed to be a long way away.

And then...

What's this? You saw the girl with this man?

- That's right... - When did you see them?

- Tea time... - Bloody hours ago!

- The chief inspector's waiting! - Where the hell have you been?

- "Where the hell have you been?" - Does she expect a reward?

Coming in here bloody hours late!

- Can she tell us what he looks like? - Not exactly, no.

- Bloody good sort of lead! - Hey!

What?

Next.

All right. Is she gonna come up with something better than this?

It doesn't look very promising, sir.

Any luck with the girl at the hospital, Sergeant Johnson?

No, sir.

The coat is the best lead. Puts him up a peg.

You won't find your average layabout in a coat like she's describing.

No, sir. You won't.

- Put you in mind of somebody? - No, sir. Not immediately.

That's not like you. Usually rely on you to come up with something.

Like you say, it's a whole different kind of fella we've been looking for.

You've no business looking out for some particular kind of fella. You know that.

You have to reckon it could be anybody until we know for certain who it is.

Tonight I want you out, all of you,

talking to every likely villain you can lay your hands on.

People you've already talked to, talk to them again.

Find yourselves some new faces.

He's out in the open. He's taking chances.

We'll get him. It's a matter of time.

- Mr Cameron. - Sir?

- I'm going to the hospital. Keep in touch. - Right.

I want this bugger now,

before he takes some other kid into the woods and cuts her throat,

like some sort of bloody encore.

OK, sonny.

Billy?

Hang about.

I've been talking to some people who know you, Billy.

Asking a couple of questions.

You've moved, Billy, haven't you?

I don't know what you mean, Mr Johnson.

Well, the last time we talked, didn't you tell me York Street,

you were living on York Street?

- Did I? - You know bloody well you did.

- Give us a chip. - I'm taking them home.

Surely you can spare a couple of chips?!

C-couldn't we get into your car? If my friends see me...

You've...

got no bloody friends.

Look at that.

Everything all right, sir?

Anything I can do to help?

What is it? What's the matter?

This way, sir.

- How does it look? - I wouldn't bet on it.

- You wouldn't bet on bloody God. - Not a betting man.

- Cheerful, aren't you?! - One of my lads brought him in.

Now, I'm just trying to help you.

You say that you were at the cinema. You know what time the cinema closes.

- Is it him? - I don't know. Seems likely it is.

- Bloody Cameron. Have you had a go? - He's saying nothing.

Barely told us his name - Kenneth Baxter.

- Do we know him? - No.

- I'll have a go. - Cameron was asking where were you.

Tell us what you were doing, walking...

Baxter, you have to admit, it looks a bit odd in the circumstances.

- The constable finding you... - We're trying to be fair.

If you won't help us, won't even try...

I... I don't know how I'm supposed to help you, sir.

I don't even know what all this is about.

- You bloody know, Baxter. - No, no. I don't know.

Please, you have to believe me.

I... I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know.

We'll wait for the chief inspector.

Maybe he can make you understand, it does no good refusing to talk.

I've told you. I haven't refused. I've answered your questions.

You won't listen.

How can I help if you won't even listen? Huh?

Why... Why won't they listen?

- Are you married? - Yeah. Yes.

- Got any children? - Yes.

They'll be worrying - why aren't you home yet?

- Is it him? - 60-40 is my bet. Frank?

- Hundred bloody per cent. - What do you say?

- It seems likely. - That's him.

Come on, Johnny. You can't know.

I bloody know.

Time was, I'd take your word. Just now, don't know.

Even you can make mistakes these days. We'll leave him sweat.

Sweating! He's not sweating.

Laughing! That's him. Bloody laughing!

- Off you go. - Sir...

Off you go! I'll take responsibility.

- Brought you a cup of tea. - I've got nothing to say.

Thought you might be feeling thirsty.

- I won't talk to anybody. - You don't have to talk. Not to me.

Just thought you might fancy a cup of tea.

You've no right keeping me here, no right at all.

People talking to you, worrying at you.

- Just leave me alone. - All the time, questions.

- Please, let me sit here? - Bearing down on you.

- I've got nothing more to say. - Leaves the throat a bit dry.

Go away, please. Leave me alone.

We can't leave you alone, can we?

Thank you, Sergeant.

- I'd be grateful... - Cameron, I want to talk to you.

I'll call you back.

I'll read you, Baxter, like an open book.

I'll read you page by page.

It's here. It's written in your face.

Lines, shadows, marks on your immortal soul.

Your eyes?

I'll look into your eyes and tell you everything about Kenneth Baxter.

He didn't say anything, sir, as long as I was with him.

- He's said precious little since. - You talked to him?

- Yes, I did. - Couldn't wait.

- All right, Garrett. Good work. - Thank you, sir.

- Thought you'd get a quick confession. - I thought it best. Keep him warm.

If he's the bugger we're after, he's warm enough. Who else had a go?

- Frank was with me. - Oh, Jessard. Where was Johnny?

He came in a bit later.

A regular tea party! Did you send out invitations? Come one, come all?

What sort of an inquiry is this? It's bloody serious.