Little Triggers Read Online Free PDF

It’s not at home.”
    “Where, then?”
    “Maybe … here.”
    “At the centre?”
    She nodded her head, downcast, as if she didn’t want to admit it even to herself.
    “Who?”
    She moved her face closer to his.
    “You saw that guy when you came in here?” Her voice was low.
    “The Scotsman with the charisma deficiency?”
    She almost smiled. “Yeah.”
    “Him?”
    She stood up, paced the room. “This place is a success. We’vemade it one. It’s been hard fuckin’ work, an uphill struggle, but we’ve done it. This place is open every weekday for kids under school age so their mothers can have a bit of time off. Try to get jobs, even.” Another drag. “It’s gone that well we’ve had to expand. We got a grant from the council and one of the other girls and me get paid to run the place. The rest work as volunteers.”
    “But?”
    “About four months ago, this guy came to us. Said his name was James Noble and did we need any help. Said he used to work in Social Services with kids in Scotland until he was made redundant. Well, naturally we were interested. I mean, he had brilliant references and he sounded too good to be true. You know?”
    She stopped talking again, took another drag. Larkin remained silent, letting her story unfold the way she wanted it to.
    “Well, it was great for a while. But then… Well, we started to have doubts about him.”
    She stopped. Larkin sensed that she couldn’t quite believe the enormity of what she was saying. He prompted her.
    “What kind of doubts?”
    “After he arrived, some of the kids began to behave – differently. Like you saw. I mean, at first he was left alone with them, but now … well, I can’t be everywhere. When that happened just now I was on the phone, trying to get some sense out of the council about the grant.”
    “Why don’t you just ask him to leave?”
    “I’ve tried. He hasn’t actually said anythin’, but he’s sort of made little intimations that if he goes our grant goes an’ all.”
    “How can he do that?” asked Larkin.
    Jane hesitated before answering. “He said he had friends in high places.”
    “Did he mention names?”
    “No. And I don’t want to know them.”
    “So what’s he been doing, exactly?”
    “Somethin’ – physical. I think so, anyway. I haven’t been able to examine any of the kids but…”
    “So what are you going to do about it?”
    She looked directly at him. “Stephen, I haven’t a clue…” Her voice trailed off.
    “Couldn’t you get the wonderful Alan Swanson to help you?”
    “What, our esteemed Minister for Youth? I wouldn’t piss downhis throat if his heart was on fire – pardon my French. We’ll get no help from that bastard.”
    Larkin gave a grim smile. “Couldn’t agree more.”
    “Kids are too young to vote. Why would a politician wanna help them?”
    “Yeah,” said Larkin, “maybe he’s just—” He stopped suddenly, a terrible thought entering his head.
    “What?”
    “Paranoia city, this, but… What if Swanson is Noble’s influential friend?”
    The colour drained from Jane’s face. “Then I’m fucked.” She put her hands to her face, rubbing the skin as if to erase her worries. “Aw, hell, I’ve never felt so helpless before.” She stared into her lap. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said all this.”
    “Don’t be daft. That’s what friends are for.” His voice took on a soothing, placating tone. “We don’t know that it’s Swanson. In all probability it isn’t. So don’t worry. Now listen…”
    She looked at him, expectant.
    “I’ve got a friend on the force. I’ll ask him to check up on this Noble, see if anything turns up. I’ll get him to check the referees on his CV as well, if you like.”
    “Oh, Stephen, I hate doin’ this! Creepin’ around. Checkin’ up.”
    “Yeah, but what choice d’you have?”
    She sighed. “I know. I’ve got to do it for the kids, haven’t I?”
    “Least you’ll know one way or another. And no