Page 177 of The Secret We Keep
No. No. No. No. No.
Seeing the flower bed at the front of their house flattened and my car not where I left it, I turn to look back at Morgan’s parents whohave followed me outside. “It’s gone.” My hands pull at my hair. Why? Why is this happening. What the fuck do I do?
“No,” Julie screeches.
“Find her, Paddy. Please,” Bill tells me, dragging Julie into his arms. “She doesn’t know how to drive.”
I look at Bill, not knowing how the fuck I do that. “I’ve given her lessons,” is what I stupidly say to try to calm him, frantically turning on the spot as footsteps approach.
“We’ll take my car,” comes Jerry’s voice, as he runs towards me.
In a daze, I’m barely able to speak as I start following him, my heart collapsing with every step.
Don't leave me
Paddy
“Shecan’tbetoofar away,” I protest to Fi on the other end of the phone.
“How long ago did she leave?”
“I don’t know. Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes.”
Fi sighs. “We’ve searched our road. About to get in Dad’s car now.”
“I’m coming,” Evie cries out in the background.
“Please, Fi, leave her out of this.” I don’t know what we’re going to find, but I sure as shit don’t want the kid witnessing anything.
“We can’t leave her at home, and we’re not leaving you to do this on your own, Paddy.”
“Come on,” my old man tells them.
Fighting my rising unease, I look straight ahead as Jerry drives fast. “Thank you.”
Not saying another word, the line goes dead.
“Which direction?” Jerry fires at me, coming to a T junction.
“I don’t fucking know.” I look left and right, heart pounding. “Left,” I then call out, knowing Fi and my folks might come from the opposite way. “We can circle round the top edge of the woods.”
“Will she leave Stoney Grange?” Jerry asks worryingly, punching the car forwards, a light spattering of rain beginning to hit the windshield.
The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
His phone rings, connecting to the Bluetooth in the car. “Dad?” Jerry answers.
“Police are on their way. Where are you both now?”
Jerry flicks on the wipers. “By the old pub heading out to the woods.”
“Call me if you find anything. We’ll go to her place of work and further out. Paddy, message everyone you can think of.”
“Already done,” I confirm, quickly looking to where his name is on the screen. He’ll be going out of his mind.
Jerry presses the end call button on his steering wheel, and I just know he heard his mother sobbing in the background. You couldn’t miss it if you tried. His fingers turn white on the wheel, confirming it.
“We’ll find her,” I tell him, not fully believing my own words. “She won’t go far.”
