Chris Nickson - Come the Fear

The time passed slowly as he sat, measuring it in heartbeats. Outside he could hear the clamour of Kirkgate, people busily passing, the clop of hooves and the squeak of a carter’s wheel as it turned the corner on to Briggate.

It was late afternoon when the deputy returned, his clothes dusty and his face drawn.

‘Well?’ Nottingham asked.

Sedgwick shook his head. ‘Nothing. There’s about fifty of them out there now, and we’ve looked everywhere. We’ve already been through all the yards, out in the fields, down by the river. .’ He sighed, poured himself some ale and drank it down quickly.

‘What about the other side of the Head Row?’ the Constable asked. ‘He could have wandered over there.’

‘We’ve searched there, boss,’ he answered with a tone of resignation. ‘We went out past the grammar school, walked the fields. Most of them are willing to keep looking, and there should be more to join them later.’ The deputy sat and stretched out his legs. ‘It’s as if he’s vanished.’

‘Or someone’s snatched him,’ Nottingham said darkly. He steepled his fingers under his chin.

‘No one would do that,’ Sedgwick said. ‘Not a little boy.’

‘Let’s hope not, John, for everyone’s sake. Unless you want to see real panic in Leeds.’ He sat forward. ‘I still want to take Walton tonight.’

‘Do you think he’ll go with everyone around?’

‘I don’t know,’ Nottingham admitted, ‘but we need to be ready. Be at Trill’s before sunset. Keep yourself out of sight in the other room. I’ll bring Holden with me and we’ll cut off the yard. Then we’ll have him.’

‘Who’s going to lead the search for the boy?’

‘It’ll have to be Rob. I’ll give him instructions. Once we’ve got the thief taker in a cell we can go out and help. You’d better send word to Lizzie that you might be late tonight.’

Sedgwick gave a small, sad smile. ‘Already done it. I told her why.’

‘Good. Now go and get yourself something to eat and pray it doesn’t turn into a long night.’

‘What about you?’

‘I’m not hungry,’ the Constable said.

At five he was in the mayor’s office with no good news to tell. Douglas looked a month past weary. His eyes were hard and he needed a shave, the dark bristles on his face shadowing his skin.

‘How many are out looking?’ he asked.

‘Scores,’ the Constable answered. ‘Everyone wants to find him.’

The mayor nodded thoughtfully. ‘Tell me what you think, Richard,’ he said, and before Nottingham could reply, he held up his hand. ‘I don’t want it sweetened or hopeful. I want the truth.’

‘I believe someone’s taken him.’

‘Why? Morrison’s a chandler, for God’s sake,’ Douglas said angrily. ‘He’s not rich, he doesn’t have any power in the city.’

‘I don’t know,’ Nottingham told him with an exhausted sigh. ‘Probably because the boy was off by himself and he was easy prey.’

‘So what do we do?’

The Constable raised his eyes and stared at the mayor. ‘The only thing we can do is keep looking and hope we find him. I’ll have men out all night. We look and look and hope he’s alive.’

‘Do you think. .?’ Douglas began, but couldn’t voice the thought.

‘It’s happened before. You know that.’

The silence in the room was full of memories. Nottingham stood.

‘I need to get back,’ he explained. ‘We’re arresting the thief taker tonight.’

The mayor raised his eyebrows. ‘With all this?’

‘With all this,’ Nottingham confirmed.

‘Do you want me to go and see the lad’s parents?’ Douglas asked.

The Constable gave a brief smile. ‘That would be a kindness. I’m sure they’d appreciate it. Just tell them we’re doing everything we can.’

By the time Lister arrived, news of the missing boy had spread throughout the city. Close to a hundred men were out looking as dusk fell. The Constable had sent most of the night men to join them, keeping only two back to help him.

‘Have you heard?’ Nottingham asked.

‘The boy?’ Lister answered. ‘Yes.’

‘I need you to lead the search for him. Mr Sedgwick and I are going to arrest the thief taker.’

‘Yes, boss.’

‘Keep them going as long as they’ll stay out or until the lad’s found. Have people walk both banks of the river and look south of the Aire. Keep combing the places where we’ve already been.’ He ran a hand through his hair, pushing the fringe off his forehead. ‘Find some lanterns somewhere, that’ll help.’

‘My father thinks someone’s taken him.’

Nottingham stopped. ‘What makes him think that?’

‘He says we’d have found him otherwise.’

‘Has he said that to anyone else?’

‘Only to me. He’s at home.’

‘And has he been out searching?’

Lister shook his head.

‘Then go and tell him he’d be a lot more bloody use outside than airing his opinions in the parlour,’ the Constable said sharply, then paused. ‘I’m sorry, it’s not your fault.’

‘He’s right, though, isn’t he?’

Nottingham sat on the corner of the desk, his mouth tight, hands pressing on his thighs.

‘He might be, but I don’t want you breathing a word of it. Once people start to believe that they’ll be looking for a culprit, and that’s when innocent men can die. Get out there, Rob, keep them going. And see if you can get your father off his arse to do something useful.’

Lister grinned. ‘Yes, boss.’

Nottingham took the sword from the cupboard, tested its edge against his thumb and buckled the weapon around his waist. Evening was closing around the city. The deputy would be in place, watchful and quiet. Walton would probably make his move once darkness fell; with so many folk around he’d probably imagine no one would notice him.

Tom Holden, the Constable’s man watching the thief taker, had found a small space that offered a view of Walton’s window and the yard at the Talbot.

‘Anything yet?’ Nottingham asked.

‘Just pacing a few times. He’ll not be out while it’s full black.’ He paused. ‘Have they found that lad yet?’

‘Not yet.’

The man clicked his tongue softly. ‘I know them, the Morrisons. Used to drink wi’ him sometimes. She’s a good woman, always looked after that boy well. Poor lad.’

‘Plenty of people are looking for him.’

‘Aye, I’ll be on it myself later.’

They waited, letting the night slowly slip around them. In the distance the sounds of the search retreated, moving out from the heart of the city. Finally the man stirred, his voice a husky whisper.

‘He’s coming out of his window now.’

They stayed deep in the shadows as Walton emerged from the yard. The man began to follow, but the Constable held him back.

‘Wait. I don’t want him hearing us.’ A few heartbeats later he released his grip. ‘Quietly now.’

The thief taker walked without any fear, striding out, never glancing back. He vanished into the court off Currie Entry.

‘We’ll go in there,’ Nottingham ordered. ‘Stay off to the side, over where he can’t see you. We’ll take him as soon as he comes out.’

It wouldn’t take long, he knew that. His palm was damp where he held the hilt of the sword and he flexed the hand slowly, eyes firm on the door.

Finally it opened with a sharp creak and a thin sliver of light and the thief taker stepped out, a sack in one hand. He was part way across the court when the Constable said,

‘Stand there, Mr Walton. Drop what you’re holding.’

The man turned as if to start back to the house, but Sedgwick stood behind him, his weapon drawn.

‘Mr Nottingham said drop it.’