by M J Lee
They parked up in Chorlton, bought her sushi and his fish and chips and went home.
He decided to wait until after he’d finished eating before reading the missing person report for Jane Ryder. Instead, they both sat with their food, watching television as they ate. He used his fingers, twisting crispy bits of salt-and-vinegar-soaked batter off the fish, followed by two or three crunchy, fat chips. Eve picked up her sushi with her chopsticks, dipping it casually into a mixture of wasabi and soy sauce before nibbling on it daintily.
They both enjoyed Pointless and Eggheads. It had been so long since he’d been to a quiz night. Another pastime fallen by the wayside in the last year.
‘Dad, you know what I’d like to do on Sunday?’
‘Fly to the moon?’
‘Daaaaddd.’
‘Give me a clue.’
‘I’d like to visit Mum’s grave, if we could. I’ve lots to tell her.’
‘OK, and afterwards, I’ll take you to your grandparents for lunch, they want to see you.’
‘Do I have to?’
‘I promised. Deal?’
‘Deal.’
After they’d finished eating, Eve went upstairs to do her homework while Ridpath was left alone with the television. He thought about opening a bottle of wine and decided against it, knowing once he started drinking he wouldn’t stop till the whole bottle was finished.
At that moment, the email on his laptop pinged.
Work was calling. He could put it off no longer.
Chapter 35
The text message from Chrissy was as succinct as ever:
Have you looked at the misper file yet?
He typed back:
Not yet, about to do it. Can you find another misper file for me? DNA on one of the hands in the backpack has come back with a match to a Joseph Rowlands, who disappeared in 2018 from 14 Styal Road, Moston. Can you also check the PNC to see why his DNA is on file? Ta muchly.
He didn’t have to wait long for her response:
OK, will do. Still looking for the other missing files and correspondence. Not here, very strange. See you tomorrow.
He was about to type, ‘don’t work too late’ but didn’t. Unfortunately, with the little time they had, everyone had to work late. Instead he just wrote, Thanks, Chrissy, feeling immensely guilty as he did so.
At least the wheels were now set in motion and, knowing Chrissy, they would have the information tomorrow morning.
He opened the missing person file for Jane Ryder. At the top of the report the old OPUS logo with its handcuffs dangling from the ‘O’ stood out. This was the police computer system copied from Northumbria, which he knew well. It was an old system but at least it had worked, not like the new screw-up, iOPS, introduced in 2019.
The next page detailed the precise procedures for dealing with a missing person. Ridpath read them through carefully.
ROUTE MAP TO AID MISSING PERSON INVESTIGATIONS. DO NOT FORGET THIS MISSING PERSON REPORT MAY BE THE FIRST INDICATION OF A SERIOUS CRIME OR CRITICAL INCIDENT
1. Obtain permission to search address thoroughly and legally; do not leave it to family or friends to search.
2. Ensure the informant signs the ‘Search Authorised By’ section on page 2 of the report.
3. Make an initial risk assessment from the evidence available.
4. Seize (for future investigation) items of the misper’s property such as diaries, computers, letters, notes and sources of fingerprints and DNA. This is in accordance with the revised ACPO guidance on missing persons.
5. Obtain two original photographs of the missing person.
6. Complete thoroughly the Missing Person Report Form 737.
7. Notify the duty CID officer if there are any reasons for concern.
8. Consider seeking the advice of a missing person search manager – this can save time and help prevent resources being incorrectly allocated.
On return to the station:
1. Ensure your supervisor reviews the risk assessment (page 3) against the risk definition.
2. Email pages 1–4 of this report to GMPCRU
3. If the website consent form is completed (page 5), have it signed by the duty inspector.
4. Remove pages 5–6 of this report and send them via the internal mail to the Force MFH Section, LPIB, SVPU including one of the photographs obtained earlier.
5. Retain the second photo for section use.
6. Check if missing person is known the Domestic Violence Unit.
7. Update supervision and action logs to ensure all are aware of the case progress.
The checklist made clear the procedures to be followed by the person completing the form. Ridpath was surprised at the use of the word ‘misper’ but, as this was an internal police document, it was excusable.
He turned the page to read the list of ‘Golden Hour’ tasks to be completed by the investigating officer. Golden Hour was the time immediately after any incident, the most productive in any investigation, when people’s memories were freshest and the correct investigative wheels had to be set in motion.
He turned the page again to find the completed form, checking the signatures at the end first. The investigating officer was a PC Colin Dowell and the duty inspector was Ronald Roper.
He thought Mr and Mrs Ryder had said a sergeant came to see them. Perhaps the station sent a PC first, following up afterwards.
He checked the rest of the form. It was the one thing he didn’t miss about being a police officer: the interminable bureaucracy. He understood why it was all necessary, but the man hours used on completing these forms made every officer’s life miserable. In this case, the form was completed on a computer, probably back at the station.
MISSING PERSON REPORT FORM 737.
SECTION ONE: PERSONAL DETAILS AND DISAPPEARANCE CIRCUMSTANCES.
W1 British Female, JANE RYDER, aged sixteen last birthday, reported missing, last seen morning of 12.06.09. Report made 15.06.09 by her parents, MR JAMES RYDER AND MRS MAUREEN RYDER. She was going to a music festival and was due to return the following evening before ten p.m. Parents checked with friend, ROSE GRAY, but friend did not go with her to festival. Other friends not aware of her present whereabouts.
Complete all boxes
Ethnic Origin Codes/Ethnic Appearance: (Codes on reverse)
1 White European XX
SECTION TWO: SEARCH AUTHORITY
This should be signed by the informant to authorise searches of buildings and grounds
Signed by: James Ryder
SECTION THREE: RISK ASSESSMENT & RISK ASSESSMENT CONFIRMATION
The Initial Investigating Officer (IIO) is to complete the risk assessment on page 3 and sign it.
CLASSIFICATION OF RISK AND RESPONSE (ACPO Manual of Guidance 2005 – Para 3.5)
High: There is an immediate risk and definite grounds for believing the missing person is at risk through their own vulnerability or mental state, or there are grounds for believing the public is at risk through the missing person’s mental state. Such cases should lead to the appointment of a senior investigating officer (SIO). There should be a press/media strategy and/or close contact with outside agencies.
Medium: The risk posed is likely to place the missing person in danger, or they are a threat to themselves or others. This category requires an active and measured response by police and other agencies in order to trace the missing person and support the person reporting.
Low: There is no apparent risk of danger to either the missing person or the general public.
After Consultation with DOREEN HAWKINS, the missing person’s manager for this case, JANE RYDER was assessed as a MEDIUM RISK.
SECTION FOUR: MISSING PERSON REPORT
RESTRICTED – when completed
Surname/family name: RYDER
Fore/given name: JANE
MP Reference No.: 2309/2012/MFH
Div/Area: TRAFFORD
Website consent signed: YES
OIC/IIO name: COLIN DOWELL (PC 23
54)
Missing From Home category:
Runaway XX
Missing from care: NO
Out of area placement: NO
DNA source available: YES
If YES – give details: TOOTHBRUSH
DNA source current location: MFH FILE
Blood group: O
Dental chart available: NO
Dental chart sent to MFH sect: NO
Mobile phone no available: NO
Photo available: YES
Photo sent to MFH sect: YES
Part 2 – Misper’s personal details and disappearance circumstances
Age: 16 YEARS OLD. 20 APRIL 1993
Ethnicity: WI
Hair style: LONG, BLONDE, SHOULDER-LENGTH HAIR
Glasses: NO
NI no: NONE
Sex: FEMALE
Religion: CHRISTIAN
Last seen on JUNE 12, 2009
Transgender: NO
Build: SLIGHT
Disability: NONE
Eye colour: BLUE
Nationality: BRITISH
Sexuality:
Mental Impairment: NONE
Place of birth: MANCHESTER
Marital status: SINGLE
Relationship of informant to misper: FATHER
SURNAME: RYDER
Forename: JAMES
Date of Birth: 14.08.1943
Information: FEMALE FRIEND – ROSE GRAY. 24 Earlington Road, Sale.
There it was: the address of the friend. He’d send it on to Sophia after he finished reading the report. He continued with the details taken by PC Dowell.
Details of clothing and jewellery believed to be worn or in misper’s possession: RED AND WHITE STRIPED COTTON SHIRT, BLUE JEANS, NIKE SNEAKERS, SKULLS HEAD RING ON INDEX FINGER. BACKPACK WITH SPARE JACKET AND CLOTHES, DESCRIPTION UNKNOWN.
Last seen location: HOME. 10 A.M. 12.06.2009
Last seen by: PARENTS
Who are they missing with? ALONE (SUPPOSED TO BE WITH FRIEND, ROSE GRAY)
Reason for disappearance: NONE
Venue searched by: PC COLIN DOWELL
Known mental health issues: NONE
Previous history of wandering: YES
Address previously found: NONE. RETURNED HOME AFTER TWO DAYS
Garden/garage/outbuildings searched? YES
Local parks/fields/school grounds/vehicle searched? NO
Search authorised by: JAMES RYDER (FATHER)
1. Suspected victim of murder or abduction? NO
2. History of attempted suicide or self-harm? NO
3. Suffers from depression? NO
4. Subject of abuse/bullying or history of abuse? NO
5. Subject’s behaviour has changed to cause others concern? NONE NOTICED
6. Subject has changed appearance recently? NO
7. Subject has recently joined new groups/sects? UNKNOWN
8. Subject has displayed grievances against state/society? NO
9. Subject has travelled abroad often or for significant periods of time? NO
10. Subject has recently associated with groups who have radical or extremist views, or has joined new religious/faith groups or sects? UNKNOWN
11. Out of character? HAS PREVIOUSLY RUN AWAY
12. Previously reported missing? YES
13. Work pressures/worries? RECENTLY FINISHED EXAMS
14. Known medical condition causing concern? NONE
15. In possession of required medication? NONE NEEDED
16. Drug or alcohol dependent? NO
17. Access to money? NO
18. Danger to others? NO
19. Familiar with area believed to be frequenting? UNKNOWN
20. Known hazards/dangers within search area? NO
21. Access to vehicles? NO
22. Passport taken? NO
32. Child abuse marker? NONE
24. Domestic violence marker? NO
25. On Child Protection Register? NO
26. Otherwise known to Social Services? YES
Care Worker completing report:
Police officer completing risk assessment: COLIN DOWELL (PC 2354)
Police supervisor confirming risk: RON ROPER (INSPECTOR 478)
Supervising Officer’s Risk Assessment: MEDIUM
SECTION FIVE
Name of person with parental responsibility: JAMES RYDER
Name of officer witnessing: COLIN DOWELL
Rank: PC 2354
Ridpath stared at the file. Questions stormed into his head. Why was a sixteen-year-old girl only seen as a medium risk? Why had she run away before? The parents had played it down, merely saying she had spent a weekend away. What follow-up to the report was completed?
And the final one, the most important, which leapt out at him from his screen.
Why was she known to Social Services?
Chapter 36
They stood over Patricia Patterson as she was sleeping in the cell. Both women were dressed simply in work overalls. The cell itself was four bare whitewashed walls with no windows. A single light above the door illuminated the scene.
The taller of the two knelt down and touched the sleeping woman’s face. ‘How long will she be out?’
‘Your guess is as good as mine. Depends how much she ate this morning and her constitution.’
‘Has it been decided yet?’
‘Not yet. We’re waiting for his answer.’
The woman stroked Patricia’s hair. ‘A shame, I liked her.’
‘She left us. We can’t allow it to happen again.’
The taller woman stood up. ‘Shame though.’
‘Make sure there’s somebody outside her door at all times, but there is to be no contact. Not until it has been decided.’
‘I’ll take the first shift myself.’
‘We have cameras and sound?’
The tall woman pointed to the light. ‘I tested them myself this morning before we brought her here.’
‘And her car?’
‘Left in a busy garden centre. It won’t be found for a while.’
‘Good. Do not enter, whatever happens, is that understood?’
The tall woman nodded.
‘There is to be no communication with her, that is the instruction.’
They both left the cell, ensuring the door was locked and the bolts were in place. From the outside, the woman checked the camera and then turned out the light, plunging the cell into blackness.
On the rough mattress, Patricia Patterson slept on, her eyes flickering from side to side as she dreamt her drug-troubled dreams.
Chapter 37
Ridpath read through the Jane Ryder file again, writing down the questions in his notebook as they occurred to him.
Which festival did she go to?
Who had she gone with or met there? Obviously not Rose Gray or Andrea Briggs.
What had happened?
Where had she gone afterwards, and who had taken her?
A ping on his computer brought him back to the present. He checked his mail, finding a message.
Tried to track down the backpack. Not having a lot of luck. CLAK is a skateboard brand popular in the early 2000s. Will check retailers tmrw. regards Emily.
There were four attachments: pictures of the backpack from different angles and a close-up of the logo.
‘Cool backpack, Dad, where did you get it?’
Ridpath jumped; he hadn’t heard Eve come in the room. She leant over his shoulder, looking at the screen.
‘I’ve not seen a CLAK like that before. Is it one of the limited editions?’
He pointed at the screen. ‘You know this brand?’
‘Yeah, it’s cool. A lot of kids at school have this backpack. Mum refused to buy it for me, said it was too expensive. So I got this Jansport instead.’ She pointed to the backpack sitting on the couch with her school books peeping out of the open top. ‘She let me decorate it with some mint patches though. I love the anime characters from Demon Slayer, and the Manchester Bee.’
‘You wanted to buy a backpack like this?’
‘Yeaaahhh.’ She lengthened the answer into a long sound like a rolling Derbyshire dale.
‘Where would you buy it?’
‘Only one place in Manchester. You and Mum used to take me. You dropped us off and went off to do your stuff.’
He frowned. ‘Afflecks? The old department store now full of trendy shops?’
‘Right first time, and only you would use a word like trendy, Dad. Remember, you hated climbing the stairs the one time you went with us and kept complaining about how expensive it all was.’
‘Sounds like me.’
‘Mum loved it though. She used to get her scarves there.’
Ridpath remembered Polly’s multi-coloured scarves. They had been a running joke between the two of them for a long time, bright purple being her favourite colour. ‘Where would you go to buy this backpack?’
‘Only one place, and it’s been there for years. Bagsy on the second floor. I don’t remember you ever going that far upstairs with us.’
‘Didn’t I stop at the weird cafe? They didn’t have any bacon butties.’
‘Not surprising, since it served vegan food.’
‘You should have seen their faces when I asked.’
‘One of your dad moments, Dad.’
‘You sure it’s the only place you can get this brand?’
‘Is United a football team? Does the earth circle the sun? Are BTS the bestselling music artists in 2020?’
‘I guess that’s a yes.’
‘Correct. You know, you could make a pretty good detective with a little training.’
‘Right, smart arse, brush your teeth and off to bed.’
She kissed him on the forehead. ‘Can I have scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast tomorrow, like you used to make…?’
She didn’t finish the sentence. Like you used to make when Mum was alive, was what she meant. He smiled. ‘Of course, one Dad’s special scrambled eggs tomorrow morning. You have to get up in time to eat them.’
‘I will, promise.’ She held out her hand with the thumb and pinky pointing forward. It was that strange teenage ritual again.
‘You’re supposed to do the same.’
