Page 171 - My Home on the Earth

As Steve Bates cycled home, he thought about the boy, but it wasn’t until the evening when Elise came downstairs in her green dressing gown and said she’d had her hair trimmed that he had a moment of déjà vu. ‘Green!’ he shouted, hugging his daughter. He reached for his phone and called the station to tell them he recognised the road traffic boy. He was wearing a green jacket similar to the one the charity shop described weeks ago but his hair was much shorter.
Emily rushed into the lounge. ‘Did I hear you say, Jake Cooper?’
‘Yes, the lad who was run down on the main road this morning. He’s in hospital and they want to contact his mother and father.’
Emily’s face twisted for a second and then she thought better of it. Elise waited to hear more.
‘But Steve, you’re off duty now. It isn’t your responsibility. Surely the hospital can sort it out?’
‘I’m not going out, Emily. The station has sufficient details in his file and they will deal with the matter. You don’t have to worry,’ he said reassuringly.
Elise sneaked upstairs on the pretence of seeing her brother, Freddie. She sent a text to Cara, Olivia and Sophie. ‘Jake Cooper got knocked down today and is in hospital.’
Cara texted her grandma in France and asked if there was anything she could do. Alice said she would contact Helen in apartment eleven and tell her to go and see the woman who calls herself Marissa Collins. Alice’s last text read: ‘Sit back and wait.’
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