Janet pulled into the daycare carpark with six minutes until closing time. She buzzed the intercom to be let in.
"Hello, I'm Janet King, I'm here to collect Amal…"
"Janet?"
She stopped at the voice. Janet couldn't believe her ears.
"Bi- Bianca? What are you doing here?" Janet bumbled out. Her mind and heart and everything else was swirling with shock.
"Well this woman says she's here to collect Amal too," said the daycare director. "But she can't."
"Wait, what's going on?" said Janet, still in a state of confusion.
"We're collaborating with the state police on an operation and I'm working with Andy. He had to go at the last minute so he asked me to get Amal," explained Bianca.
"As I have already said, you cannot collect Amal as you are not an Authorised Contact. I cannot give her to you," said the frustrated daycare director, as Amal whinged with exhaustion.
"But I have this," said Bianca, as she rapped on a piece of paper which was a photocopy of Andy's police badge and a quickly scribbled permission for Bianca Grieve to collect Amal Campbell.
"As I have explained, this is not sufficient. I need a completed Authorised Contact Permission Form." The director turned to Janet. "Have you got the form?"
"Ah, Lina is my work colleague and she gave me verbal permission. And send me a text?" Janet offered, uncharacteristically shy.
"You've got to be kidding me. You can't just show up asking to take a child without the paperwork. I need to call Amal's parents."
"Lina has her phone off," said Janet.
"So does Andy," echoed Bianca.
"Then since it's now past closing time and no Authorised Contact has arrived to pick up Amal I need to call the police," declared the director.
"But I am the police," pointed out Bianca. The director checked to clock with exhausted eyes.
"Ok. I will make an exception, as a one off. As Ms Grieve has at least some written permission to collect Amal, I will release her to your care because you are a police officer. And only for that reason." The director passed Amal to Bianca.
"Bibi!" said Amal as she snuggled in for a cuddle.
"So we're all sorted then? Great," said Janet.
"No, she is sorted. I have no idea who you are or why you are trying to pick up Amal. She's going to this lady and that's it."
"Ok, no problem. Thanks, and goodbye." Bianca hoisted Amal's bag on one shoulder and Amal on her hip and Janet held the door open for them.
They walked out into the car park and stared at each other.
"So, um, how are you?" stammered Janet.
"Oh Janet, we can't do this here. Let's go, actually, I don't know where to go. I can't take Amal in my car, we'll have to get the train," said Bianca.
"I stopped to get one of the twins' old car seats that's been sitting in the garage. But I can't take Amal - look at the way the director is glaring at me. You'd better both hop in." She caught herself. "That is, if you want to?"
"We don't seem to have much choice; can you strap her in?"
Bianca, Amal and Janet all hopped into Janet's car while Janet filled Bianca in on what had happened with Lina.
"Do you want me to drive you home? She seems pretty attached to you." offered Janet
"I've seen Lina and Andy at some work things, but I didn't realise she'd cling to me so much! Jeepers, I know nothing about little kids, I don't have any toys or anything."
"Would you like to come to mine? I have toys," Janet offered with a speck of anticipation.
"Ok, maybe just until we hear from Andy or Lina," replied Bianca. Janet tried to ignore the barb that she knew was unintended, but that she nevertheless felt with that qualifier.