It was deep in the night when Sam finally stopped before the house belonging to the matron, knocking loud on the front door.
The light went on and a man in his late forties opened the door.
"Yes?"
"Sir, we need to speak to your son." They towered over the man as they blocked the door. The man looked at them with curious indifference. Footsteps from the hallway and the soft faint voice of Matron Haleema reached their ears.
"Who is it, love?" she asked as she pulled her gown tight.
"Ma'am," Sam greeted, "can we come in?"
"These men are looking for Sonia," she explained to her husband, and he opened the door wider. Sam entered first.
"We need to speak to your son."
"But why?" she asked.
"It will become clear, please Ma'am," Alexi explained.
"Which one?" she asked.
Both men said: "The twelve-year-old."
She gasped softly and looked at her husband, who nodded.
"Okay, let me wake him."