'I've just watched a man kill a woman'�, panted the young boy at the front desk officer. His words appeared to go unnoticed as his eyes stared wildly. At first glance, you could see his face was flush from witnessing a horrific act.
It had been a long day for Officer Reynolds. He was slow to react to such a statement from the small rain swept looking boy. He'd been in the job for thirteen years and had heard many revelations, but not one this big from someone so young. Looking down at him he could see he was average height for someone no more than nine years old, with a slender build, and clean looking clothes despite the filthy weather outside. He made sure he used his softest voice over the noise of the surrounding precinct.
'Ok, slow down, take it easy, everything is going to be fine. What's your name young man?'�
The boy began to shake, holding his hands together nervously in front of his body. Officer Reynolds couldn't tell if the shaking was the result of fear or the torrential rain outside. He figured it was a bit of both.
Nothing was said, until the boy slowly raised a hand to his mouth, and with a look of fear in his eyes, began gently biting his left index finger.
'He killed her, I saw it. I'm not sure if he saw me. What if he did? I'll be next?'� he said with an increasingly panic filled tone.
Officer Reynolds rose from his chair and walked through the security door so he could now stand in front of the boy without a five-foot wooden desk separating them.
'Hey, don't you worry young man. We'll take care of you. Let's get you dried off and a hot drink to warm you up'�, he said as he gently placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and motioned him through the door and towards the back of the dimly lit building, a building Reynolds was sure would be an intimidating setting for an already scared young boy.
'What's your name little guy?'�
After a few seconds silence 'I'm scared'�, was the only response the boy could muster.
Officer Reynolds' long day could fast become a long night as well.

'We need someone down here from Child Services ASAP'�, explained Reynolds to the only available detective he could find.
'The call's gone in, and someone will be down here as soon as they can'�, replied the detective, staring into the opposite room, through the viewing glass at the small framed boy sitting on an uncomfortable looking plastic chair covered in a long dark towel.
'What's the story with this kid?'� the Detective asked not taking his eyes off the boy.
'I guess what you see is what you get'�, Reynolds replied slightly dumfounded, his eyes joining the subject of the Detective's stare. 'We don' t have a name, address, even his age yet, but he says he's seen a girl being killed, and with what's been happening round here the last couple of months, and the state of this kid, I'd say we gotta take this pretty seriously'�.
'I hear ya'�, the detective agreed. 'I'd speak to him myself, try and make some headway, but this kid can' t be more than eight or nine years old, and with no name or address we can't get his parents down. We'll have to go by the book on this one and wait for child services'� , the detective conceded.

'Ruth Peters, Child services'�, announced the smartly dressed young slim brunette, as she held up her badge for Officer Reynolds to inspect at the front desk. The relief on his face was clear to see. Relief not only that this woman might be able to help with the night's new mystery but also relief that he could deal with an attractive fresh faced young woman, instead of the hard faced, well worn appearances that he had become so accustomed to over the years.
'Thank goodness. You were quicker than I thought, not that I'm knocking it'�
She smiled warmly at him as she followed him through the large security door and on through the loud, dull looking precinct towards the back, where the interview rooms were, with one containing the new mystery subject.
A dozen desks and one long corridor later and they both stood by the appropriate interview room door.
'He's all yours. Good luck'�, announced Reynolds as he opened the door and ushered her in. Ruth smiled an acknowledging smile as she left Reynolds' side and enter the room.
Once inside, you could see the big dark towel covered the boy. It fitted him like a giant cape from his shoulders nearly down to his ankles. He was wearing orange three quarter length shorts, the kind many a surfer would be seen in out on the beaches. They were probably appropriate for the early spring day before the rain began; yet sitting there; the towel was so long on his slim body that it draped below him. Ruth could see he was trembling slightly, and noted the untouched mug of coffee sitting beside him.
'Hello my name is Ruth. I'm from child services. Do you mind if I sit down?'� she asked, with one hand on the back of the opposite chair, ready to pull it out.
The boy nodded meekly.
Ruth had been in similar positions many times before. She loved working with kids, and even though she was only in her third year of the job, she knew how to talk to them and how to put them at ease. After slowly sitting down she leaned over towards the boy and gently pulled the towel tighter around his shoulders to make him feel more secure, as she gently asked his name.
No response.
'Please?'� she asked, almost sounding desperate.
'He'll find me'�, the boy finally said not taking his eyes off the floor.
'Who will?'�
'The man I saw him kill that woman'�
'No one will get you here. You're perfectly safe'�, Ruth stated trying to re-assure the boy. 'How old are you?'�
Finally, after a long silence, he answered.
'Nine'�
'And where are your parents?'� Ruth enquired.
Nothing. She gently sighed to herself.
'Okay, in your own time, can you tell me what happened tonight?'� she quietly asked.
The boy slowly lifted his head up, his eyes meeting Ruth's. She could see he had deep brown eyes, a clear complexion and the most innocent looking young face she'd seen in a long time.
'I watched a man slowly kill a woman'�, he stated very clearly.
'Where'�
'Near here'�
'When?'�
'About half an hour before I came here'�
Ruth had wanted to take some notes but first she wanted this boy to know he had her full attention and wouldn't be distracted by such things as writings in a notebook. That was until now.
'Do you mind if I write some of this down?'� she asked, slowly pulling a notebook and pen from her bag
The boy slowly shook his head. No one ever seemed to mind, and it made her job a little easier when they agreed.
'Okay, taking it nice and slow, can you tell me what you saw?'�
The boy visibly tensed up at the question, and squirmed in his seat. The silence seemed endless. Finally, his lips moved. When he spoke, it was in a low weak voice.
'I watched a man put this woman in a big oven and cook her to death'�, he said slowly and clearly his eyes having dropped back to the floor. He looked like he was about to cry out with fear at any second, but Ruth needed some more information. She wanted something more to go on, but knew she had to remain gentle with this fragile looking child.
'Where were you?'� she slowly and quietly asked.
'I was standing outside. I could see through a window that had been left open a bit'�
'Where was this?'�
'Outside the place, I watched him kill her'�
The boy flicked his eyes up to meet Ruth's, as if to emphasise what he had just stated, and then lowered them back to the floor. Ruth gently placed a hand on his shoulder to try and reassure him, but what she really needed now were some details. Anything, especially specific information, to glue together what this mystery boy was talking about and where the crime occurred. She knew the possible implications of what he was talking about. The last couple of months' activity in the area meant she had no choice but to understand.
'Are you okay to carry on?'� she asked.
He nodded slowly his eyes meeting hers again.
'Were you hiding when you saw this?'�
'Yes, I was crouching behind a low wall, but I could feel the warm air from the oven, coming out through the open window'�
'What were you doing there?'� she gently asked, making sure she didn't use an accusing tone, which so many detectives she'd seen couldn't help but do.
The boy sounded more and more nervous as he spoke.
'I was just passing. I like to walk. I was in a place I hadn't been before. At least I don't think I had, certainly not in the dark. It started to rain, and I was about to run to try and find some shelter, and then I heard a noise. I don't know what it was, but it made me stop and turn round. Then I saw the open window. I crouched down, so I was out of sight. I had a bad feeling, that's why I crouched out of sight. Then I saw it happen'�
Ruth could see him becoming more agitated, as he moved his hands uncomfortably under his legs, and his upper body wriggled. She tried to make him feel more at ease.
'It's okay, you're doing really well'�, she said as she made a few notes. 'Where did this happen?'�
The boy started to shake and she could see his eyes start to well up tears.
'It's okay, you're safe, don't worry, nothing will happen to you here'�, she said as she stroked his shoulder and hoped his visible trauma wouldn't get the better of him.
'It would really help if I could know your name, if nothing else, just so I have something to call you by.'�
It was if he didn't hear the question, his voice picking up straight off the back of her last word.
'I saw him place her in the oven, and pull the lid down. He burnt her to death. I watched him do it, he cooked her'�.
He was talking quicker, and louder now, with growing fear in his eyes, his hands now in his lap, clasped together, his knuckles turning whiter the harder he clenched them.
'It's okay, really, it's going to be okay, I promise'�, Ruth desperately tried to reassure.
Right now his name seemed of the least importance. It was details she needed, but she had to be careful what to ask. This boy was traumatised enough, asking for gory details could make things a lot worse. Was the woman alive before being placed in the oven? Was there a struggle? Any screams? Although these questions needed answering, Ruth knew this boy was in no state to answer them right now. She had to use as much tact as possible.
'Did you here any shouting, or any voices?'�
'No'�, replied the boy, his low voice returning, and his body movements slowing right down.
'Had you seen either the man or the woman before?'�
'No'�
'Did the man see you?'�
The boy gasped, as if he believed the man in question could see him now. A tear rolled down his cheek. 'I hope not'�, he blurted out. 'What if he did? He'll know I've seen him and he'll want to get rid of me. What if he did see me and followed me here, what if he's outside waiting, what'�'�
'Hey'�, interrupted Ruth, trying to be harsh and calm at the same time. 'No one is going to get you. I'll be here with you and there is a whole police station out there, behind you. Right now you are the most protected little boy I can think of, okay?'�
He seemed to respond to her words, wiped away his tears, and after several seconds gently smiled whilst nodding.
'Now if you don't mind I have to speak to one of the detectives about this. I will be just a couple of minutes. Will you be okay here for during that time?'� Ruth asked, whilst sliding the towel back around his shoulders.
The boy nodded remembering what she had just told him about being protected.

Outside in the corridor Ruth found Officer Reynolds, with the detective he had originally spoken to about the boy.
'Well this kids is pretty shaken up'�, Ruth stated as she slowly walked toward them both.
'What have we got so far?'� asked Reynolds
'Well'�, Ruth sighed before continuing 'Not too many details, certainly not as many as we'd like. He says he saw a woman being burnt to death not too far from here'�.
'Any idea where?'� asked the detective
'I'm working on it'�, she replied
'Did he tell you how it happened?'� asked Reynolds
'Just said he saw a man put a woman in an oven, and basically cook her'�, she slowly said whilst raising her eyebrows, as if to place emphasis on the mystery of it all.
The two men shared a thoughtful silence as Ruth looked on hoping for some inspiration from them.
'A giant oven'�'�, the detective said seemingly thinking out aloud. 'There m ust be at least three crematoriums within a three-mile radius of here. Could he have been at one of them?'�
'We've got Mitchell's Sheet Metal Works on the other side of town, as well'�, added Reynolds joining the detective's train of thought.
Ruth shrugged using 'I just don't know' gesture.
'What concerns me is that eight women, and two children, have been murdered by seemingly the same person in this district in the last seven months. What if our boy in there has just witnessed the eleventh?'� Ruth asked with a concerned expression on her face.
'Based on what this kid is saying, the killer's MO would be different this time. The previous ten have all been killed in their own homes. Seems a bit late in the game to change pattern'�, the Detective added.
'But not impossible'�, Reynolds tried to reason.
'I've got to try and get some more information from him'� Ruth said firmly realising that the there of them were just coming up with more potential questions than answers. 'Right now all I know is that he's nine years old, and what he says he's witnessed, which is sketchy so far. I can 't even get his name, but I'm working o n it, just give me some time'�
'It's been a long day'�, sighed Reynolds. 'Looks like it's going to be a long night as well. You do what you've got to do, anything you need, you let me know'�, he said, as the Detective and Reynolds headed back down the corridor. Ruth watched them leave and sighed as she re-adjusted her suit jacket. As she re-entered the room, the young boy almost looked pleased to see her, his eyes widening as he looked up at her.
'Told you I wouldn't be long'�, she said.
The boy smiled a nervous smile as Ruth sat back down.
'I'm really going to need your help now'� she said leaning forward looking right into the boy's eyes. 'I've got to try and get as much information as possible so we can help get the person who did this, but I can't do it without you, okay?'�
He slowly nodded.
'Your name would be a really helpful start honey?'�
'James'�, he finally admitted after a long pause
'Okay, James'�, Ruth smiled, 'Could you describe anything about the man who did this?'�
There was a long silence.

'Excuse me officer. I'm looking for my son. He should have been home several hours ago'�, said the woman standing before Officer Reynolds' front desk. She was medium height and build, wearing a rain soaked and well-worn leather jacket, totally inappropriate for the weather outside. Reynolds noticed how cold she looked with her long dark hair, dampened down with the rain, flattened against one side of her face.
'His name is James'�'�

'It's okay James, take your time'� Ruth reassured him, as she sat back, ready to take some more notes.
'He looked neat'�
'Neat?'� she questioned
'He looked clean. A clean face and he had a clean looking white T-shirt on'�
'Okay'�, she said as she noted these details down. 'Did you notice if he had any gloves on, or anything on his hands?'�
'I don't think so'�, replied James after pondering the question for a moment.
Ruth smiled to herself as she thought about the fingerprint prospects.

'What's your name ma'am?'� asked Reynolds
'Rachel Withers'�
'How long has your son been missing?'� he asked, wanting to establish some immediate details before going to his computer.
'A good four hours. I know my son likes to walk, but he's never been gone this long, and he's only nine'�
A possibility began to register with Reynolds.
'What does your son look like?'� he asked hopeful of the answer he might receive.
'He's only so high'�, she said using her vertical hand as a measuring point from the floor, as rainwater dripped from her jacket. 'He's got kinda messy dark brown hair, big brown eyes, pale clear complexion, no glasses or anything like that'�
'What was he wearing?'� Reynolds asked just needing one final confirmation.
'He had a plain T-shirt on, and his favourite pair of three quarter length shorts. That's why I'm worried, he didn't leave with a coat and when the rain started I thought he'd soon be back'�'�
'Ma'am, it's okay'�, Reynolds interrupted. 'I'm pretty sure I know where your son is'�'�

'James I know this may be difficult for you right now, but you are doing so well. Remember I'm right here and nothing can happen to you, so just keep going in your own time, okay?'� Ruth stated in a convincing yet soothing voice.
'Okay'�, he replied with a weak smile, his eyes fixed firmly back on the floor.
'Did the man carry her into the oven?'� Ruth asked, pen at the ready, waiting for his response.
There was a long pause
'No'�, James practically whispered.
'Did he drag her into it?'�
'He might have dragged her into that room, but I didn't see him drag her into the big oven'�
Ruth hoped James didn't see the confused look etch itself onto her forehead as she looked up from her notebook at him.

'Mrs Withers'�, started Officer Reynolds, now standing in front of her in a more informal setting.
'It's Miss'�, she corrected with half a smile.
'Apologies Miss Withers'�, he said. 'Your son has been here for some time now'�
'What?'� interrupted Rachel, with a startled surprise that took her back a step, 'Why, what's happened?'�
'Now don't worry, he's perfectly safe and he's done nothing wrong'�, Reynolds stated gently placing his hands on her shoulders to calm her. 'But until you came in, we didn't have a name, address or anything. We had no idea who to contact so we had someone from Child Services come down to speak to him. It's normal practice with someone so young'�
'I don't understand, speak to him about what?'� asked a confused looking Rachel.
Reynolds ushered her over to a quiet corner so they wouldn't be heard.
'Miss Withers your son came in here earlier this evening clearly traumatised, saying he'd witnessed a woman being murdered. We've been trying to get some more details from him since then'�, he explained in a deep but low tone of voice.
'Oh no'�, she slowly said, breathing out heavily. 'Officer, there are few details I think you need to know'�'�

'James, if he didn't carry her into the oven, or drag her, was she already there when you saw her?'� continued Ruth.
'No'�, answered James becoming agitated again. 'He placed her there'�.
'Placed her there?'� questioned an increasingly confused Ruth, her face not even able to hide that fact.
'I couldn't see everything. She walked into the room first. I couldn't see if she was tied up or not. I guess her legs weren't, as she seemed to walk okay. He was behind her. I couldn't see if he had a gun or a knife, but I guess he could have. I couldn't see that great, but I saw her get in the oven, then he seemed to say something'�, James started shaking again, and his eyes began darting round the room.
'It's okay you are doing so well James, and I'm right here. Take your time'�, she said gently squeezing his right hand.
'Then he closed the oven and burnt her to death'�
His tears started to fall again.
'It's okay James, it really is okay, I'm very proud of you'�, Ruth said as the confusion in her head screamed at her. Why would anyone volunteer to be cooked alive? Was a gun, or a knife threatening her? Surely, anything would have been a better death than being burnt alive. Why were there no screams or cries for help? If this was the work of the same killer of ten recent residents, then the MO really had changed.

'What do I need to know Miss Withers?'� Reynolds asked with a negative look on his face as be braced himself for some negative news.
'My son has an illness. He has seen so many doctors over the last couple of years I've lost count, but it's only in the last couple of months he's finally been diagnosed'�, she explained as her eyes flicked between the patterned floor and Reynolds now intense gaze. He looked relieved and despondent at the same time.
'Is this the part where you tell me your son is a diagnosed pathological liar who makes up stories all the time?'�
'If only it was true officer, it would make life much simpler, believe me'�, Rachel sighed. She continued, struggling to make eye contact for any length of time.
'I can't even pronounce the name of the illness he has, let alone get my head round it. I can't understand how it's even possible, but lets put it this way, if James says he has seen someone murdered then he honestly believes that is what he has seen'�
'You're really losing me here Miss Withers'�, Reynolds proclaimed before folding his arms
'In simple terms Officer, my son will interpret what he sees and it will become his reality, and nothing can change that'�, Rachel slowly tried to explain.
'Excuse me?'� asked a totally confused Reynolds
'He suffers from a form of compulsion which is coupled with a mild detachment from reality. That's the best way I can put it. It stems from a slight chemical imbalance in his hormones or his brain, to be honest I've heard so much lately even I get confused as to which it is, and what affects what'�, She sighed before carrying on, 'It doesn't help being on my own trying to handle all of this'�
Reynolds listened intently waiting for her to continue.
'What I'm saying is, when he sees something, sometimes he can see it for what it truly is, but then there are times where he sees things that are in fact something else, something they're not, and he will then obsess over it and be insistent that it really happened that way. He's not a liar or a story teller, it is what he truly believes.'� She sighed heavily before looking Reynolds right in the eyes. 'Officer my son believes Father Christmas is real. He is adamant about it, so much so that he insists when he's old enough he will go to Lapland to find him, and the scary thing is that given the chance he will go.'�
'Miss Withers I appreciate what you're telling me, and I realise it must be really difficult for you, but right now James is down the corridor talking to someone from Child Services about a murder he says he witnessed. The question right now is'�what did he really see?'�

'James I need to try and find out where this happened. Can you help me with that?'� Ruth gently asked.
James slowly nodded
'Do you know where you were?'�
'It was near here'�
'Were you at'�'� she hesitated wanting to choose her words carefully. 'Were you near a funeral home or some kind of factory, anything like that?'� she asked slowly not wanting to unnerve him.
James slowly shook his head. Ruth was nearly out of ideas on how to pinpoint the location, when he started to speak.
'It was a dark alleyway, about a mile from here, I think'�
Ruth's mind began to race, as she thought of all the possibilities within a mile radius in all directions. All she could come up with were various housing areas and shops.
'Were there any cars in this alleyway?'� she asked.
'There was a dark van, maybe black or dark blue, not too far from where I saw it happen'�
'Did you notice any writing or pictures of any kind on the van, anything at all?'�
'I'�'� he thought for a moment, 'I think it had something like Nathan's or Ethan's on the side. I might be wrong, but I think it was something like that, I can't be too sure'�, he said whilst frowning.
A deep thoughtful expression appeared across Ruth's face, as her mind tried to register a location to where her thoughts were taking her.
'Ethan's'�, she said quietly, more to herself than to James. 'Ethan's'�, she repeated. Then it came to her. Ethan's was a dry cleaning and laundry store about three quarters of a mile away, near the corner of Franklin and Lofthouse. It couldn't have been more than a mile from where Ruth lived. In fact she was sure she had used it once back in her student days, several years ago.
'James how close was this van to where you saw what happened, was it the next building, maybe two buildings?'�
'Maybe it was the next building, I'm not too sure'�, he said quietly, still staring at the floor.
Over James' shoulder Ruth saw Reynolds appear at the glass window, separating the room from the outside corridor, standing alongside a rain soaked brunette.
'Officer, he really is a good kid. He believes what he saw. He hasn't tried to fool anyone, or deliberately mislead. He'll believe he saw that girl dieing, and I 've got to try and find the right words to convince him otherwise'�, Rachel said softly, staring in at the back of her son.
Reynolds sighed and looked in through the glass at Ruth. He caught her gaze, and started to slowly shake his head at her, hoping that somehow something might click into place before he had to go in and explain things.
Ruth stared back for several seconds, a deep frown on her forehead, before a look of realisation swept across her.
'Do you know for sure this girl is dead?'� she asked while still looking up at Reynolds.
'She must be now.'�
'What was the last thing you saw?'�
'I saw the oven close. The man left and I watched for several seconds, before running. I was scared he would come back and see me.'�
'James did you see flames?'� Ruth asked quickly, turning her attention back to James, whose eyes were still fixed on the floor.
'Not exactly flames like fire no'�, he replied
'James, what colour were the flames?'� Ruth asked, her voice becoming more intense
He thought for a few seconds before replying. 'They were a purplish blu e colour'�
'And the man you saw was clean looking with a white top?'�
'Yes'�
'What was the girl wearing?'�
'I couldn't see that well, but it didn't look like much. Maybe some kind of hot-pants, I'm not sure, and she didn't have much on her top either'�.
Hearing this Ruth lowered her head into her hands, a potential realisation flowing through her.
'Okay'�, she said softly. 'I'll be one minute'�.
A few seconds later she was standing beside Reynolds, who was in the middle of the threesome, before she could speak, Rachel did.
'I'm James' mum'�, she announced softly. 'He's not a bad boy, really he's not, and he thinks what he saw is really what happened.'�
Ruth managed a wry smile in her direction.
'There hasn't been a murder, has there?'� Ruth said, making more of a statement than asking a question.
Reynolds shook his head. 'Apparently not'�, he replied.
'Well I guess we should be thankful for that at least'�, Ruth replied, trying to sound upbeat
'Any idea what the kid saw?'� Reynolds enquired.
'I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this'�, Ruth said. 'Unless I'm very much mistaken it sounds like he was at the back of the shopping precinct near Franklin and Lofthouse. There's a service alley there, at the back. He mentioned being near Ethan's van which has a laundry place nearby, and'� '�
'These are all good details'�, interrupted Reynolds, 'But what did he see?'�
She looked at both of them for several seconds before speaking again.
'Two doors down from Ethan's is a tanning and beauty parlour'�, she said waiting for someone to react, hoping someone would realise what she believed to be now true.
'You gotta be kidding me'�, said Reynolds dropping his shoulders as the realisation hit him as it had done Ruth just a couple of minutes before. Looking straight at Rachel, Ruth spoke.
'I think your son has seen a worker from the tanning shop, show someone into the tanning room, then watched him help them onto the bed, start the machine, lower the lid and leave the room. All perfectly normal stuff, if it's for someone who hasn't used them before'�
'He thought a sun-bed was an oven?'�, an amazed Reynolds stated.
'Apparently so, but he really believes what he saw is true, and right now there is one seriously traumatised boy in there'�, she said staring in at the lost little boy slumped in his chair.
His mother let out a long sigh
'Jeez this is going to be a long night'�, Reynolds understated.

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