As soon as she saw Cryssie, Polly jumped to her feet and flung her arms around her, bursting into hysterical tears. ‘Cryssie! I’m so sorry! Milo’s never run off before, has he? He was always so safe in the garden! Whatever shall we do? Oh, Cryssie…this is a nightmare! I’ve looked everywhere!’
Jed introduced himself briefly to the officers, and in answer to his questions they explained that all the area cars were already patrolling the streets, that missing children were a number one priority, and that in most cases they turned up safe and sound.
For a child of five to be missing for three hours was not uncommon.
‘They’re usually with someone they know,’ the man said reassuringly, trying to make himself heard above Polly’s wailing. ‘The best thing is for his mother—and his aunt—to stay here, for when he wanders back home. The WPC will stay too—and I’ll go to cover one of the possible areas where the child might be.’ He glanced down at one of the pictures he was holding. ‘He’s a beautiful little boy,’ he said casually—which only added to Polly’s hysteria.
‘Cryssie—you come with me,’ Jed said brusquely, and through her threatening tears she could see clearly that he was agonising over this situation as much as herself and Polly. ‘You know all the places he goes—all his friends,’ he added.
‘But I’ve been everywhere. I’ve already done that!’ Polly cried.
‘Then we’ll do it all again,’ Jed said firmly. ‘Maybe there’s somewhere you’ve overlooked.’ He grabbed Cryssie’s hand. ‘Come on. We’re wasting time!’
The rest of the afternoon passed in a haze of hope and despair as one by one all possible ideas of where Milo might be came to nothing. The minutes ticked by as they drove slowly along every road, searching the park and the surrounding small wooded area where the children made dens, questioning everyone they came across, holding up Milo’s picture, until Cryssie felt so physically and mentally drained she thought she was going to lose her mind. It was obvious that the police had not been successful, either. Because they’d promised to ring Jed’s mobile if the child turned up.
Feeling defeat begin to sweep over her, she turned to Jed and said helplessly, ‘He’s gone, Jed. He’s been stolen. I know it. We’re never going to see him again.’
‘No!’ He snarled out the word in a way that made Cryssie recoil in fear. ‘No, no! We’ve got to find him! Come on…think!’ He banged his fist against his forehead in frustration. ‘What about…didn’t you say you were taking him to the Summer Fair at some point? He might have tried to make his own way—’
‘That’s impossible,’ Cryssie said at once. ‘He’d never do that! It’s right at the other side of town—there’s no way he could get there by himself.’
Jed revved the engine. ‘It’s worth a try,’ he said tersely.
They drove through the crowded Saturday afternoon streets without speaking. Jed’s face was almost brutal in expression as he surged the car forward. Cryssie sat motionless, listening to the racing of her heart. If anything dreadful had happened to Milo—or worse, if she should never see him again—her life would be over, she thought. Because what would there be to live for? All her plans and hopes and dreams were wrapped up in that little boy, and for Polly it would be the end of her world, too. Helpless though she was in many ways, Polly loved her son too much for her to imagine life without him. Slowly Cryssie’s hand went to her mouth as she considered that stark possibility, the hell into which she and her sister would descend.
It took about fifteen minutes to reach the fairground, its gaudy sights and ear-splitting sounds as they drew up making Cryssie nearly heave. Milo had always loved this annual treat, but how different it all was when they were here to enjoy themselves, she thought, tears welling up in her eyes.
As they got out of the car, Jed nodded towards the stationary police vehicle waiting there. ‘They’ve beaten us to it,’ he said. ‘But there’s such a crowd here it’ll take all of us to cover the place.’ He strode in front of her to speak to the officer standing there, and before she could catch him up he turned to face her. ‘There’s still no news,’ he said briefly. He caught her hand. ‘Right. We’ll start around the outside, where the staff caravans are always parked.’
‘I still don’t think Milo could have got here by himself,’ Cryssie said, the hopelessness in her voice saying it all. ‘And it’s not like him to do such a thing.’ She paused for a moment, holding her side, which was burning with a tense pain. ‘Oh, Jed,’ she murmured in a desperate whisper. ‘I’m…I’m so frightened…’