With dark thoughts filling his mind, Watters nearly missed the boy. It must have been some police instinct that made him look up at just the right moment.
“Hey! You!” Watters pointed his cane at the red-haired boy who sauntered along the street, whittling a piece of wood. “Come here!” As he had expected, the boy immediately fled, without even looking to see who wanted him. Watters followed, shouting, knowing that other police would join in. At least he might salvage something from this wreckage of a day.
“Got him, Sergeant!” Constable Abercrombie put out a long arm and grabbed the runaway by the hair.
“You"re pulling my hair out!” the boy yelled, struggling to escape Mackie"s rough grip.
“Thank you, Abercrombie.” Watters took over, holding the runaway firmly so he could not escape. “Ca
