As far as Kim knew, it offered a counselling service for people aged nine to twenty-five accessed either by professional services or self-referral.
What she hadn’t known before her Google search online was that they specialised in providing a range of support for young people who wanted to explore their gender identity and sexuality.
The green-fronted premises opened into a room with easy mauve furniture. Stairs descended out of the room but were blocked off by what looked like a kiddie gate. Posters and leaflets covered the walls. Opposite the entrance was a glass panel with a door to the left.
A man in his late twenties with hair tied back in a ponytail waved through the glass.
‘Cliff?’ Kim asked, approaching the office.
He nodded. ‘I didn’t do it,’ he said, holding up his hands as they showed their IDs.
Oh, she hadn’t heard that one in a while.
‘Is there somewhere we can talk?’ she asked.
‘Anyone due in room one, Karen?’ he asked the woman at the second desk.
She checked something on the computer. ‘Nope, free until two.’
Cliff wrapped up what was left of his sandwich. She often forgot that many people observed proper lunch breaks. For police officers, it was a case of grabbing something on the go as they moved from one location to another.
By the time she thought about apologising for the intrusion, his sandwich had vanished and he was heading towards a key-coded door.
He keyed in the numbers and pushed the door open then held it for them to pass through.
‘First left,’ he said, disappearing from view around the corner.
Kim pushed open the door and the light automatically illuminated.
‘Sorry,’ Cliff said from behind. ‘Our sessions are mainly one to one.’
In the small space were two green wing-backed chairs placed before an old fireplace.
She moved aside to allow him to enter, carrying a hardback chair which he placed beside one of the easy chairs.
‘Thank you,’ Kim said, taking the hard chair. Bryant sat beside her, and Cliff took the easy chair on the other side of the fireplace. The space was intimate for two but snug for three.
‘So, how can I help you?’ he asked, sitting back in the chair.
‘Do you know a young man named Jamie Mills?’
He frowned and then began to shake his head. ‘The name isn’t familiar to me but I’d have to check our records to be sure.’
‘Good friends with someone called River…’
‘Oh, we know River very well, but he only ever comes in alone.’
‘For what?’ Kim asked out of interest. River didn’t strike her as the type of person who needed help with accepting his sexuality.
‘He treats it like a drop-in centre. Pops in for some of the group chats,’ he said with a half-smile on his face. ‘We don’t actively encourage it, but he’s not a bad example to have around.’
Yeah, Kim could see that. His confidence in his own skin was refreshing and a little enviable.
Kim was unsure why Megan had directed them to Cliff if he didn’t know Jamie.
‘Okay, well, thanks…’
‘Hang on, you’re here now. Maybe I can help. Tell me more about this boy.’