We do not own Eastenders, Ashes to Ashes, Waterloo Road, Doctors, Emmerdale or River City
Chapter 12
"This stuff is really fascinating," Lucy said to Alex as she finished asking more questions and noting down Alex's answers.
"Can we go to lunch now?" she asked. "I'm starving. I'm even willing to buy."
Alex smiled and nodded as she grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair and stood. She cleared all of the paper off her desk and into her drawer.
"Let's go," she smiled.
Lucy got up and followed Alex out.
"The diner?" she asked and gestured in the direction of it.
Alex nodded with a smile. "Of course, where else around here do we get amazing food?" she asked with a small snort.
Lucy walked into the restaurant and chose a likely-looking table. She quickly ordered her food from Charlie and put her notebook on the table. When Alex was done ordering, she opened the book.
"So, here's what I'm trying to plan for my next course," she said and pushed the book across to Alex.
Alex pulled Lucy's notes towards her and looked over them. She nodded and began suggesting things that Lucy could add and complimenting other parts of her plan.
Lucy sipped her drink and listened carefully to Alex. She was really starting to enjoy this and the subject was fascinating. She was tempted to use her father as a case study. She held back a chuckle at the thought.
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Peter walked into the front room.
"I just talked to Jane; she wants me to help her with the food for Rowan's reception. Do you want to pitch in?" he asked Molly.
Molly nodded agreeably. "Sure!" she smiled.
"What does she want?" she asked curiously. "Like a buffet?"
"I think so. They decided to have it at R&R, and Jane offered to do the food. Not sure what all she's doing. I think Rowan's just left it up to Jane."
"Awesome," she smiled. "I'll help out."
"If you've got your work all done, why don't I take you to lunch?" Peter offered. "I'd really like some of that chocolate cake that Rowan makes. I wish she'd let you have the recipe," he said enviously.
Molly chuckled and slid on her shoes, she took his hand and led him out of the flat.
"Well, I'll just have to beg, really really hard," she smiled at him. "Or you just keep buying lots and lots of it," she shrugged.
"Okay, I'll buy lots then," he grinned and squeezed her hand.
"You all set for the reception being at the club?" he asked her as they walked along.
"Yeah, everyone is ready, staff all sorted and I've got a good idea about the decorations and stuff," she smiled at him.
"Do you think Roxy and JT will come back for this?"
Molly shrugged at him. "No idea. Turns out that Roxy's really difficult to get hold of," she sighed.
"Huh," Peter said. "Maybe Rowan knows. If she's there you can ask her. What do you think you'll do when Roxy comes back?" he asked her.
Molly nodded then sighed. "Dunno, we'll probably have to have a meeting or something for her to catch up on everything, then who knows?" she shrugged.
Peter opened the door for Molly and gave Nora a quick wave.
"I want at least two slices of chocolate cake to go," he told her. "We're going to eat here, though," he added and led Molly to a table. He sat down and realized Alex and Lucy were on the other side of the restaurant.
"Hey, your Mum's here," he said. "Do you want to sit with her instead?"
Molly nodded. "Can do, yeah," she smiled and looked over. "She's talking to your sister," she pointed out with a smile as she made her way over and slid into the seat next to Alex.
"I'm aware of that, but I was trying not to be," he joked and followed her over.
"Hey, Mum," she smiled as she gave Alex a quick one armed hug then beamed at Lucy. "Hiya, Lucy."
Alex smiled. "Hi, Molls, how's things?"
Molly nodded. "Good, I'm helping Peter and Jane with Rowan's reception," she told Alex then looked at the book. "What're you doing?" she asked curiously.
"Psychology," Alex replied and Molly nodded. "Oh," she said, she didn't really get psychology. Alex had tried to explain certain parts of it to her several times, but it didn't really interest her.
"The criminal mind is fascinating," Lucy told her. She looked at Peter. "Though I thought I might write a paper on dad," she said with a chuckle.
Peter shook his head. "That could take years."
He looked at Molly. "You know what you want?" he asked her as Charlie came over.
Molly nodded and told Charlie her order.
Alex looked at Molly. "Gene's taking Sammy up to see the match in Manchester this weekend," she told her and Molly smiled.
"He'll love that won't he?" she asked and Alex nodded. "Yes, but he's upset about going into nursery today," she sighed. Molly nodded sadly.
"Things will get better soon though, I'm sure," Peter offered.
"Some kids can keep it up as long as most adults," Lucy disagreed and glanced at Alex.
Charlie brought the food over.
"You still want me to work in the club on Saturday night?" he asked Molly.
Alex sighed at them and nodded "It'll change when he gets to school, and out of that nursery," she said confidently.
Molly nodded at Charlie. "Yes please, if you're still able to do it," she smiled at him.
"Not a problem," Charlie told her and walked off to help another table.
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Chloe looked around at the children as they sat down at the little tables to eat their lunch. She smiled as she counted heads to see how many they had then went over to the desk and counted the number of children signed in. She frowned, she must have missed one. She counted them all again and her frown deepened, no definitely 16 children. There should be 18. She went and checked the toilets and nodded slightly as he made his way back to the table. 17. Still missing one.
She went and got the sign in book and checked it against the kids she could see. Sam Hunt was missing; she bit her lip and went to get Mrs. Arnold.
"Well, you're going to have to call him."
"But he's so intimidating."
"You should've kept a better eye on the kids, then! Did you know that both of them are police officers, a DI and DSI if I remember correctly, they could quite easily press charges!"
Chloe gulped and nodded at Mrs. Arnold. She sighed heavily, she'd met Sam Hunt's father on a few occasions when he dropped his son off and the guy was frankly one of the scariest people she'd ever met. His wife seemed quite pleasant, though.
Chloe dug through the forms until she came across Sam Hunt's, it had his mother's mobile number, his home number and both parents' work numbers. She picked Mrs. Hunt's mobile, surely she would be better than trying to talk to Mr. Hunt.
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Alex detached herself from the conversation and pulled her phone out of her bag. She frowned slightly as she recognised the nursery's number and presumed that Sammy had been playing.
"Alex Hunt," she answered.
"Umm Mrs Hunt, it's Chloe Reynolds from the Nursery, we, um, we seem to have lost your son," she said meekly.
Alex's eyes widened and she felt her heart race in her chest. "Sorry, could you say that again, I think I may have misheard you," Alex said as calmly as she could. Molly frowned at her Mother's tone of voice and turned her head to look curiously at Alex. She took in the sight of Alex's clenched fists, knuckles almost white and placed her hand gently over the top and squeezed Alex's fist. Alex didn't look at Molly; her attention was on the voice on the other end of the phone.
"Your son, Sam, he's missing."
"Are you sure?" Alex asked slowly, holding herself together. "Have you looked?"
"We've searched the entire nursery and the ground outside and around, there's no sign of him Mrs. Hunt, I'm sorry."
"When!" Alex demanded to know. "When did he vanish?"
"We only noticed 20 minutes ago."
Alex snapped her phone shut and dropped it onto the table as she stood.
"Mum!" Molly said as she stood too and looked worriedly at Alex. "What's happened, you've gone white!"
"Sammy's missing," Alex said shortly as she snatched her phone back up and walked out of the restaurant, dialling Gene's number as she went.
Molly gaped after Alex and looked at Peter and Lucy as she felt the panic and worry well up inside her.
Peter reached over and grabbed Molly's hand.
"We should go look for him, Charlie can pack up our food and we can get it later," he told her, but still grabbed up several chips from his plate and ate them quickly.
"I'll help," Lucy offered and quickly stood up. She walked over to Charlie and told him they needed containers for their food and he nodded and went to get some and brought them over.
"Thanks, Luce," Peter said and nodded at Charlie and began to put his and Molly's food into the containers while Lucy did hers.
"He's probably just wandered off somehow," Lucy suggested. "I bet with a bit of help we find him pretty quick."
Peter quickly sent off texts to Fatboy and to Whitney asking them to help. They were the only people he could think of who could get away to help look.
Molly nodded and headed out with Peter and Lucy to go and look for Sammy.
Peter looked at Molly.
"Start at the nursery?" he asked her and began to head in that direction.
Molly nodded. "That's where he was last," she said as she broke into a run.
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Whitney read the text and gasped. She stood up and put the dress she was working on aside.
"I'll be back," she said as she ran past Jodie and Poppy at the counter.
Jodie looked at Poppy.
"Wonder where she's going?"
"Where's she going d'you think?" Poppy asked as she watched Whitney leave.
Jodie sighed and shook her head. "She looked really worried, don't you think, Pops? I hope nothing's wrong."
"I bet there's something wrong though Jode, did you see her face, she looked proper worried," Poppy said, her tone serious and concern all over her face.
"I feel like I should have asked her if she needed any help," Jodie said mournfully. "Now I just have to stay here and worry," she added and leaned against the counter, her shoulders slumped.
"Oh Jodes, it's not your fault," Poppy said desperately as she came over and wrapped an arm around Jodie. "You can't go beating yourself up Jodie, you're always really sensitive," she said affectionately.
"I hate being so sensitive, Pops," Jodie said and leaned against Poppy. She straightened up and looked Poppy squarely in the face, her expression determined. "If we can help, we will, won't we."
"Course we will!" Poppy replied brightly. "We have to help if something's wrong Jode, wouldn't be right if we didn't!" Poppy insisted.
"Definitely wouldn't be right," Jodie echoed and gave her head a decisive nod.
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Alex half-screamed in frustration when Gene's phone kept going through to answer-phone. She ran all the way to the station and burst into his office. Empty. WHY THE HELL WAS IT EMPTY! She sat down in Gene's seat and pulled his bottle of scotch from the drawer and took a quick gulp. She knew she needed to calm down, but how could she when her son was missing. She needed Gene, and he wasn't here. She grabbed his diary off his desk and looked at it, stupid man was so bloody un-organised! Meeting.
Alex scrawled a note and left it on his desk before heading out to go and look for her son.
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Whitney ran up to Sammy's nursery and looked around for Peter and the others. She was pretty sure they would start here first. She paced along the pavement in front of the building, trying to catch her breath and noticed a break in shrubs. That was probably where he'd gotten out. She stuck her hands on her hips and looked around as she waited.
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Molly stopped as she reached the nursery, panting a little then spotted Whitney, she darted over and looked at her.
"Found anything?" she asked hopefully as she looked around.
Whitney shook her head.
"Not really, but look at the hedge there, it's broken like someone crawled through," she pointed.
"We should split into pairs," Lucy suggested. "Molly, you and Peter go that way and Whit and I will go this way. We can text if we find anything. He can't be that far, can he?"
Alex had bolted from the restaurant so fast they hadn't had time to find out how long Sam had actually been gone.
Peter nodded at Lucy's suggestion. "Sounds like a plan to me," he agreed and grabbed Molly's arm and went off in the direction Lucy had indicated, calling Sammy's name once he was at the end of the street.
"Let's go," Whitney said to Lucy. "If we should need more help, though, we can get it. I can get Bolton over here and they may be a bit dim, but Jodie and Poppy have good hearts and would be here in a second to help."
Lucy nodded. "He's got to be close by. I don't even want to think about what might have happened," Lucy told her and Whitney looked at her curiously. "That someone grabbed him while he's out," Lucy explained and set off at a brisk walk, leaving Whitney to follow along behind.
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Molly wandered around with Peter for the next few hours, calling Sammy's name, asking people if they'd seen her little brother wandering around. No one had seen him, though at one point she had thought that she had found him, but it turned out to be some other little blond boy whose mother came along just as Molly reached the boy. She hadn't heard anything from Whitney or Lucy or her Mum either.
Finally she stopped and sat down on a nearby wall and cradled her head in her hands. What if he'd been snatched? What if they didn't find him? What if something awful had happened to him? Hundreds of different possibilities speeding through her mind until she finally started crying.
Peter quickly grabbed Molly and wrapped her in his arms.
"We'll find him, Molls, we will," he assured her as he stroked her hair and held her tight.
Molly slid her arms around Peter and held tight to him as she hid her face in his chest.
"What if something has happened to him?" she whispered through her tears.
"Please, Molly, don't think like that," Peter soothed. "We'll find him, we will."
He heard her phone beeping. "You better check that, maybe they found him," he said hopefully.
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Alex had checked everywhere. She had gone and interrogated the nursery staff until they cowered intimidated by the dangerous mixture of her worry and fury. She hadn't got much out of them at all, then she had proceeded to interrogate every single person she passed as she went to look for her son. Nothing. No trace of him anywhere, they didn't even have an exact time that Sammy had disappeared because the bloody staff hadn't bothered to pay attention to the children in their care. Well, she would be pressing charges, as soon as she had her son safely back in her arms.
Still nothing from Gene. She needed him to help her with this; she needed his support and his authority. She needed her son safe and sound. She called his office number once more, she was getting more and more hysterical and desperate with every moment that past, she needed his reassurance, and he was in a bloody meeting! His son was far more important!
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Whitney leaned against a nearby wall and sighed. "Lucy, we've walked miles, surely we would have found him by now."
Lucy looked around. They had even checked alleyways and any places he might be hiding in, but there was just too many.
"We need more help," Lucy told her. Whitney nodded and pulled out her phone.
"Nothing yet," Whitney texted to Molly. She just hoped Molly and Peter were having better luck than she herself and Lucy were. She gnawed her lip a moment and then sent off a text to Jodie.
"Molly little brother missing. Come help search," she paused in her typing. "We should meet up somewhere," Whitney suggested. Lucy glanced around.
"We're actually near the diner, let's go there," Lucy decided.
"Meet at the Diner now," Whitney finished and sent the text. She then sent one off to Bolton.
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Jodie heard her phone and gasped. She quickly read the text and looked at Poppy.
"We have to go help, Molly, you know Molly, we were at hers for that party, her little brother is missing. He is just the cutest little boy. Whitney wants us to meet her at the diner, right now," Jodie told her and grabbed the keys off the counter and walked towards the door as fast as her overly-high heels would carry her.
Poppy gasped and silently grabbed up her handbag then tottered after Jodie.
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Charlie looked up from the register as Lucy and Whitney came slamming in.
"We need everyone's help," Lucy called out as she passed him, garnering everyone's attention that was in the diner this late after lunch.
"Sammy Hunt is missing from nursery; it looks like he got out through the hedge. We've searched the surrounding area and can't find him. We need more people," Lucy announced. She then turned and called the station. Whether the Guv was there or not, Sammy had been gone nearly two hours.
"Adam," she said when the phone was finally picked up. "We need as many people willing to come to the diner, Sammy Hunt is missing from nursery, he's been gone just over two hours now. Four of us have searched the immediate area with no luck," she explained.
Syed quickly got out his phone and sent off a text to Rowan.
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Rowan heard her phone beeping.
"Lyss, can you get my phone and see who is texting me?" she asked. "Don't worry, Ray doesn't send those kind of texts," she added with a grin. "It should be right on top in my bag."
Alyssa smiled ruefully. Jack used to send her texts like that, he used to send them quite a lot, especially when the first got together. She sighed and pulled out Rowan's phone.
"It's from Syed," she said and her eyes widened as she read the text.
"Sammy's missing," she said worriedly. "Syed says that Lucy and Whitney are pulling people together to look for him," she said.
"You're kidding!" Rowan gasped as she turned the corner. They were nearly there.
"Tell Syed we're almost there," she said. "Then maybe you should have Jack get over here to help. I'll tell Ray, good thing he has today off. You can help me start getting things ready for volunteers, people will get hungry and thirsty and it's the least I can do," Rowan said. Someone would have to stay with the twins and this way Rowan could do that and still help out.
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Bolton glanced down at his phone and raised an eyebrow. He glanced at the clock; he was due a lunch break he supposed. He took a quick shower and headed off for the Diner.
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Ginger looked up as Adam came in and told them about Sammy. He immediately stood up and began to walk towards the door, with a glance back at Shaz.
"Can you let Chris know?" he finally asked and hurried out.
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Lucy started organizing people into groups.
Syed walked over and tapped her on the shoulder. "Rowan said she'll be here soon and she and Alyssa are going to put together food and drink for everyone volunteering."
Lucy nodded. She wondered where Alex was. She realized something else and sent off another text to Molly.
"We need a pic of your brother."
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Molly looked at her phone then showed him the text sadly. "They haven't," she said glumly. She looked down at her phone again and nodded slightly as she found the most recent and decent picture of Sam that she had on her phone and sent it to Lucy. She then sent a text to her Mum about what was happening so that she knew. Molly knew that Alex would be in pieces
"Come on, let's go get with everyone else and see what my sister is up to," Peter suggested and gently guided Molly towards the restaurant.
Molly took a deep calming breath and nodded at him. "Okay," she said quietly as she kept a firm hold of his hand.
She sent off a text to Alex to say what was happening at the Restaurant and that she should get down there.
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Lucy looked around as more people began coming into the restaurant, all coming to help find Sam. She wondered briefly where Chris was, but she couldn't think about him just now. She hoped Alex would get here soon, especially as some of her fellow officers began arriving.
Rowan pulled up and quickly got out of the car. She went in the side door, leaving the door open for Alyssa while she hurried upstairs to put the dress in the bedroom. She fished her phone from her bag and put it in her pocket and then hurried downstairs.
Lucy caught sight of Rowan and walked over to her.
"Do you have somewhere we could print this photo?" she asked. Rowan nodded.
"I could print it off in black and white, no problem," Rowan said. Lucy sent Rowan the picture and Rowan headed back upstairs to hook her phone up to the computer and print the photo.
She texted Ray about Sammy as she went. She printed off several pictures and took them back down to Lucy.
"I'm hoping Alex will get here soon," Lucy was telling everyone. Rowan gave her the pictures and then went to make sure that tea and coffee had been started.
"We're making some sandwiches, too," Syed told Rowan and she turned to look at him.
"Good," she said.
Alyssa followed Rowan inside and headed straight for the kitchen. She couldn't see Alex, Gene or Molly anywhere; presumably they were all out looking for Sammy. She bit her lip and fired off another text to Jack, they were going to need all the help they could get to find Sammy.
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Gene got back to the station when the meeting was over and frowned at the quiet. It was too quiet. He strode to his office and dropped into his chair, his hand stretching out to tap on the desk. He noticed a piece of paper that hadn't been there before. His eyes widened and then narrowed and he got up out of the chair quickly, causing it to slam against the wall and then he slammed out of the office and down the hall to the main room.
He shoved the door open hard. "What the bloody hell does it mean that my son is missing?" he bellowed and looked around.
Shaz looked up in alarm at Gene.
"From what we know the nursery called Alex and she came back here to find you. Lucy's gathering people to help look for him now, everyone's meeting down at Rowan's," she explained to him calmly. "I'm staying here to man the phones and keep everything in order," she added.
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Alex glanced down at her phone and nodded at Molly's text. If they were sending out search parties from Rowan's then Gene would probably be there. She turned around and ran the whole way to the Diner. She was panting by the time that she got there but pushed her way in and looked around.
Alex was bowled over as Molly flung herself at her and Alex hugged her daughter tightly. "Anything?" Alex whispered and Molly shook her head and looked up.
"Not yet, but everyone's trying," she said and Alex nodded. She looked around hopefully then back at Molly.
"Gene?"
"Not yet."
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Jack quickly finished getting dressed and jumped in the car. Of course when Alyssa texted him he was covered in dirt from sorting the garden for Rowan's wedding. He sighed. Perfect timing. He pulled up and looked around at all the people who had come to help. He threaded his way through the crowd, keeping an eye out for Alyssa's distinctive hair.
Gene frowned and turned and swept from the room. He climbed into the Quattro and drove to the restaurant. Alex had better be here, he thought as he stalked down the pavement. He flung open the door and went inside, his eyes unerringly finding Alex. He walked over to her.
"Sammy," he said, his tone dark.
Alex turned and immediately fixed her arms around him, hiding her face in his chest.
"He ran off from the nursery, they didn't notice until they sat him down for lunch. There's no way of knowing how long he had been missing for before they noticed," she told him. "No one has seen him since," she half-sobbed as she clung to him.
Alex turned her face to look up at him desperately. "We have to find him Gene, he's my baby boy," she said feeling her tears well up again.
"Ran off..." Gene echoed and growled low in his throat as he pulled Alex closer. "This is their fault with letting that bloody bullying continue. I'm tempted to go give them a piece of my mind and lock those bullies up, I don't care if they are only five years old."
He walked over to Lucy, taking Alex with him as he went. "We need to get out there and look, too," he told Alex. "I can't just wait here."
Alex clung to him tightly, she normally hated it when Gene got angry but in this case it was good; Gene fired up meant that they had a better chance of finding Sammy, he'd do anything he could to find Sammy, she knew that.
She nodded at him. "I know, I didn't expect you to do nothing," she said quietly and looked over at Molly.
"We should take Molls with us," she told him. "She can't sit here and worry," she said.
Gene nodded. "We'll take her and Peter, both," he decided and walked over to where the couple was.
"C'mon, let's go find Sammy," he said to them. Peter looked up and nodded and helped Molly stand.
"Let's go, Molls, we can't sit here and do nothing."
Molly looked up at Gene and then nodded as she stood shakily.
"Okay," she said as she looked at Peter and then to Alex and Gene. Alex reached out a hand and Molly took it, she squeezed lightly and Molly smiled weakly.
"We'll find him Molls, we'll find him," she said and Molly nodded again.
Lucy wound her way through the people, picking out groups of three, giving them a small map Whitney drew of where they'd already looked and a printout of Sammy's photo. She wished them luck and sent them on their way. She noticed the Guv come in, but kept going from group to group, getting the volunteers sorted.
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Alyssa found the mugs and began setting up a table for making tea and coffee. She set an urn on the table along with tea bags and sugar and jugs of milk. She looked around and her attention was caught by Jack. She finished setting up the table and made her way over.
"It's awful, isn't it," she said to him quietly and sadly as she found her gaze drawn to Alex's face. "You have to help find him, Jack," she told him.
Jack slid an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "I will, love, promise," he said and pressed a kiss against the top of her head and then leaned his head against hers. He waited a moment longer, enjoying the feel of holding her close and then lifted his head. "I should go talk to the boss then," he said and gestured at Lucy. He gave Alyssa a quick smile and then walked over to Lucy to join a group.
Alyssa nodded and stood for a moment watching him. She had to admit, his presence had calmed her and his small embrace had made her feel a little better. She shook her head slightly and turned to go back to what she was doing.
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Ray left Denis kicking the ball around as he pulled out his phone. He frowned at the text from Rowan.
"You want us to come back? Or would C&D be in the way? x"
He looked up at Denis as the ball hit his leg and smiled as he kicked it back.
"I want them home and they'll want your help to look for Sammy," Rowan sent back. She went into the walk-in to get more meat for sandwiches and then went to lean in the kitchen doorway to see how things were progressing.
Ray nodded and pocketed his phone. He looked at the twins and grabbed up the ball.
"Come on, you two, your Mam wants you home," he told them and herded them towards the car. He drove them home and ushered them upstairs, he put a DVD on for them and gave them each a bowl of crisps then headed back downstairs. He sought out Rowan amongst the crowd and pulled her aside.
"Twins are upstairs watching a DVD, what's going on?"
Rowan looked up at Ray as she felt his hand on her arm.
"Sammy's gone missing; volunteers have been showing up here to help look for him. Apparently Lucy Beale got that started. I think Gene and Alex are around somewhere," she told him and pointed at Lucy. "She's putting groups together and I'm going to bring those two down here. Alyssa can help me with them and I want them where I can put my hands on them."
She smiled and then headed upstairs to get the twins. She grabbed the portable DVD player and herded them downstairs and sat them at the break table.
Ray nodded at her and watched her go. He looked around briefly before heading over to Lucy to offer to help.
Lucy looked at Jack and Ray as they approached her, then around at the few people left. She sighed. "Okay, you two go with Mo," she said since Lucy herself, Whitney and Bolton were going to be a team. Peter had taken Molly and sat her down in one of the booths to try and calm her down. If she went out again, it would no doubt be with her parents.
Mo looked up at Ray and Jack and smiled. "Well, well, lucky me, then," she grinned and Jack looked at Ray and visibly gulped. Mo turned and headed for the door.
"Who's driving then?" she asked and then stopped and looked back at them. "Let's go boys," she called and gestured at them.
Jack shrugged. "I'll drive," he said to Ray with a sigh. "Just our luck, eh?" He chuckled and followed after Mo.
Ray sighed and looked over his shoulder, he scowled at Alyssa as he caught sight of her face. He turned and followed Jack and Mo outside, they would find Sam.
Alyssa couldn't help but be amused that Jack and Ray had been grouped together with Mo, and the looks on their faces! She knew now was probably not the time for laughter but it had made her chuckle. She turned around and went to look for Rowan, she wasn't sure what else they could do now that almost all of the groups had gone.
"So, where we gonna start looking then?" Mo wanted to know. Jack glanced at her in the rear-view mirror, glad that he'd managed to get Ray to sit in the passenger seat. He did not want to sit next to Mo.
"We have a car so I'm going to drive a bit and then we'll turn around and work our way back," he told her.
"How would he have got out this far?" Mo snorted.
Jack glanced at Ray and rolled his eyes.
"He could get on a bus," Jack replied. He didn't want to add that Sam could have been taken. That wasn't something worth contemplating.
Ray frowned slightly. "They wouldn't let a five year old on a bus on his own surely?" he questioned. "Besides, what if he hasn't got any money with him?" he added with a shrug and sighed.
Ray turned in his seat to look at Mo. "We don't know how long he's been missing for anyway, he could have it could be minutes or it could be hours, if it's hours then he could be anywhere," he pointed out to her.
Ray blanched and looked at Jack out of the corner of his eye. He didn't trust Mo Harris one bit.
"We'll check anywhere we come across," he said as he kept watch out of the window. Surely with this many people looking they'd find Sammy soon.
Jack pulled up at a likely spot and stopped the car.
"Some of these houses look empty, we can check them out and then move on," he suggested.
Mo stood next to him. "Right, I'm with you, then."
Ray looked at Jack and Mo, then out the window at the houses around them. Jack thought that Sammy had got into one of them? Poor kid, he must be so scared.
"Right, I'll check that one then, we split up we'll cover more ground quicker," he said and gave Jack a small apologetic look, he had no desire to be stuck with Mo any longer.
He shut his car door and stalked off towards one of the houses.
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Lucy looked around at the now nearly empty restaurant.
"Okay, guess it's our turn now," she said to Whitney and Bolton.
She walked over to Rowan. "If anyone else turns up can you guys just put them in small groups, give them a map and a printout and send them along?"
Rowan nodded.
"We'll have food ready for everyone later," she offered.
Lucy gestured at Whitney and Bolton and headed for the door.
"Darren, I really wish you'd brought a car, all this walking!" Jodie sighed and looked at Poppy. "Pops and I are getting tired," she complained and took Poppy's arm.
"Well, I didn't think about it and I'm not sure Max would have let me," he told Jodie and moved a bit ahead of them. He loved Jodie, but he wished someone else had got stuck with the pair of girls. They were doing his head in.
Poppy nodded in agreement with Jodie. "Really tired," she put in.
She turned to Jodie as she realised that they were going to keep walking and sighed heavily. "My feet ache Jodes, we need to stop," she said.
"I want to sit down, too, Darren," Jodie complained. "Can't you call Max and get him to bring a car over? Or we could call Charlie Slater," she suggested and looked at Poppy.
Darren looked at the two girls. He could call Tam and Afia and let Jodie and Poppy go sit and rest somewhere.
"I'll call Charlie for you," he told them after he quickly sent off a text to Tamwar begging for help.
Jodie flung her arms around Darren. "Thank you, Darren, you're a prince," she enthused.
Poppy beamed at Darren as she sat down on a nearby wall and slid off her shoes and held them by the straps as she wiggled her toes. She let out a small wail.
"My nail varnish has chipped," she exclaimed sadly as she leant down to inspect the damage.
Jodie gasped and bent to inspect Poppy's toe.
"We'll have to go to the salon and get that fixed," Jodie told her seriously.
Poppy nodded."I know Jodes," she wailed sadly.
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Rowan kept business for the searching volunteers. Any customers that came in, she told them what was going on and asked them to join the search. Most agreed, some left.
She smiled at Poppy and Jodie as they came in behind Charlie.
"How is the search going?" she asked them as she handed them cups of tea.
"Very tiring, there's just too much looking to do," Jodie said wearily and took the tea.
"Well, you girls can get sandwiches or something off Alyssa over there," she said and gestured to where Alyssa was sitting near the buffet table, talking to the twins.
Lucy became more discouraged as more time passed and no one seemed to have seen any sign of Sammy. How was that even possible? Unless he was taken. She hated thinking of it, but too many people near the nursery hadn't seen a small boy wandering around on his own with an overstuffed backpack.
She sighed and climbed back into the car and waited for Whitney and Bolton to return so they could go back to the diner.
Gene squinted in the gloaming, his expression still angry. So far, no sign of Sammy. He could see Alex sitting next to him and he almost knew what she was thinking, Sammy had been taken as he wandered around. That was why no one had seen any sign of him.
"I'm taking you lot home, you need to rest. I'll go out looking some more," he said and turned in the direction of the flat.
Peter met Gene's gaze in the rear view mirror and almost offered to go along until he saw the almost imperceptible shake of Gene's head. He nodded slightly back. He understood. Gene wanted someone to stay with them, someone who wasn't falling apart.
Alex sat silently in the car on the way home. So many thoughts were running through her head that she just couldn't voice. She couldn't believe that they were true. She sat for a moment in the car as Gene pulled up outside the flat then finally got out. She looked up at the house and blindly opened the door. She headed straight for Sammy's room and went and curled up on his bed, pulling her son's favourite toy against her chest.
Molly went and sat windowsill, hugging a cushion she stared hopefully out of the window, surely he'd work out the way home? He knew the car journey from home to nursery, he watched out of the window the entire way! She knew he was only 5 but there was still a chance.
Peter watched as Alex and Molly went into separate rooms and sighed. He went and sat next to Molly and wrapped his arms around her.
"He'll be found, Molly, he has to be," he said soothingly as he stroked her hair.
Molly leant against him and clung to his shirt.
"But you hear about it don't you? And see it on the news," she said quietly. "All those kids that go missing that never get found," she whispered to him.
"Yeah, but those kids aren't Sam. Look who his parents are! If someone wanted to grab him they'd have to catch him first," he said, keeping his tone upbeat. "He's probably just lost and hiding somewhere. We'll find him."
He tightened his arms around her.
Molly nodded silently and looked towards Sammy's room. She pulled her head off his chest and looked up at him.
"I want to stay here tonight," she told him. "I don't want to leave Mum on her own."
"I hadn't planned on us going anywhere else," he assured her. "C'mon, let's get you to bed," he said and walked her into the bedroom. He helped her into bed next to her mum & then went and stretched out on the couch.
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Poppy had put her shoes back on in the car but they still ached. She headed over to the buffet table and smiled as she was handed a plate. Alyssa looked at Jodie and Poppy hopefully.
"Do you know if anyone's found him yet?" she asked.
Poppy shook her head. "No," she said. "It's so sad isn't though," she continued and Alyssa nodded.
"It is, yes," she said in a quiet voice, she understood why Rowan wanted the twins where she could see them, one child missing was enough.
Poppy studied Alyssa. "You work in that Salon don't you?" she asked and Alyssa nodded.
"Yes, why?"
"Well I took my shoes off earlier and my nail varnish has chipped and you know what it's like, you try to paint over it with a colour that's similar and it's not quite the same shade and then when you wear your sandals people notice and point it out, and I don't know about you but that makes me really uncomfortable, when people point out the different red over the chip," Poppy told Alyssa earnestly.
Alyssa hid her smile slightly and nodded along understandingly. "You want an appointment for a pedicure?" she deduced and Poppy nodded.
"Wow! You must be really clever! I didn't even ask!" she said and turned around to looked for Jodie "Jodes!" she called out and gestured at Alyssa "She's psychic!" she exclaimed.
Alyssa looked at Poppy incredulously then turned to Rowan, her mouth slightly agape.
Jodie gasped and turned around at Poppy's announcement. She walked over to Alyssa.
Rowan widened her eyes and met Alyssa's surprised gaze with her own and immediately clamped her lips together to keep from laughing.
"If she's psychic, Pops, maybe she could tell you where you will meet your ideal man," Jodie suggested breathlessly. She clasped her hands together and looked at Alyssa hopefully.
"You could do that, couldn't you? Tell Poppy where she can meet 'The One'?"
The twins both looked at Alyssa, their mouths wide "o's" of surprise. "You're sykit, Auntie Lyss?" Claire wanted to know.
Rowan stifled a groan and put her face in her hand.
Poppy's eyes widened and she turned back to Alyssa, her mouth open excitedly.
"Could you do that? Really?" she asked, her tone full of hope.
Alyssa looked from Poppy to Jodie helplessly then at Rowan. Claire's question made Alyssa look down and she stared at Claire and Denis. She shook her head at them and looked back up at Poppy and Jodie.
"I'm not psychic," she said to them apologetically.
"Oh," said Poppy sadly as her face fell dramatically. Alyssa couldn't help but feel a little bad for her, Poppy may have got the wrong end of the stick, but she had just got her hopes up just to have them crushed.
"But," she said quickly and Poppy looked back up at her. "You will find someone, I promise you," she smiled.
Poppy's eyes widened. "You really think so?" she asked hopefully.
"Of course," Alyssa said with a small smile.
Poppy smiled widely and nodded as she looked back at Jodie. "She says she's not psychic," she explained to Jodie, still a little sad "But she still thinks that I'll find 'The One'" she sighed as her expression went dreamy.
Alyssa looked down at the twins. "I am not psychic, okay," she said to them quietly with a small smile.
Claire and Denis looked at each other and then back at Alyssa and watched as she comforted Poppy.
Jodie slid an arm around Poppy's shoulders. "See, she thinks you're going to find 'The One'," she reassured, gazing at Poppy in concern.
Poppy nodded hopefully at Jodie and a small smile graced her lips. "I hope I find someone as amazing as your Darren, Jodes," she sighed.
"You will, Pops. You will." Jodie smiled and nodded back and then smiled at Alyssa before leading Poppy away.
Claire looked at Alyssa. "Okay, but what's sykit?" she wanted to know. Denis nodded, his expression curious.
"If you're psychic it means that you know what's going to happen before it happens, like seeing the future," she explained to them. "But I'm not psychic," she told them hastily, she didn't want them getting ideas.
"Ohhh," Claire said. "Okay."
Rowan walked over, glancing at the girls as they walked away so that Charlie could take them home.
"That was..." she said and trailed off then shook her head. She wasn't even going to finish that sentence, not with the twins right there. They would surely repeat it.
Alyssa watched Jodie lead Poppy away and turned her attention to the twins.
Alyssa looked up at Rowan and nodded. "Uh huh," she agreed. "It was." Alyssa looked over at Poppy and Jodie and a chuckle escaped her. She looked at Rowan and leaned towards her a little. "She didn't make her pedicure appointment," she said quietly.
Rowan snorted a laugh.
"Of course she didn't."
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Bolton carefully put an arm around Whitney's shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
"C'mon," he told her gently. "Lets go and refuel and work out what to do next from there," he told her as he ushered her back into the car.
Whitney nodded and followed Bolton back to the car where Lucy waited. She drove them all back and climbed slowly from the car. She watched them go inside and leaned against the door. She was going to have to take the car back to the station. She sighed and went into the restaurant to see if any progress had been made. It seemed not.
She thanked Rowan and Alyssa for their help and left to take the car back. She walked dejectedly through the station until she got to the main room and went inside. Chris was there, by himself. Everyone else had gone home or was still out searching. She went over to him and took his face in her hands and kissed him. He broke off the kiss and looked at her.
"Sure we should do this here?" he asked as he stood up. Her answer was another kiss. Chris wrapped his arms around her and moved with her to the corner as her hands moved to the waist of his trousers.
Jack went back to the car as darkness fell. He looked at Ray and Mo.
"Anything?" he asked them. Mo shook her head.
"Nothing yet, no sign of the little fella."
"We should get back then. Surely they'll have other people, fresher people, looking now that it's dark," he suggested. He was missing Alyssa and holding her close reminded him he was missing her in more ways than one.
Ray nodded as he collapsed into the his seat in the car.
"Yeah, we're no good if we're falling asleep, we'll miss stuff," he agreed.
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Jack walked over to Rowan and Alyssa. He wanted to hug Alyssa, but compromised by just standing close.
"Still nothing," he told her. "I'll go out tomorrow with the others," he said. "You could come with me."
Alyssa nodded. "I will," she agreed. "He needs to be found, and the more people looking the better."
She looked up at him and frowned a little, he looked tired. She reached out and patted his arm lightly "Come on, we should go home, you look exhausted" she said to him.
Jack nodded.
"You look pretty tired yourself," Jack observed and after a quick wave at Rowan & Ray, he led her out to the car.
Rowan smiled at the two of them and then followed the twins who had bolted across the room to their father.
"I'm going to close up, but I'll put out free food and drink for the volunteers again tomorrow," she told Ray. "It's the least I can do."
By the time Rowan reached him, Ray had a twin securely tucked under each arm. He smiled tiredly at her and nodded. "They'll appreciate it, Ro," he told her sincerely.
She grinned. "Your mother can help me since I think Alyssa is going out looking with Jack tomorrow. On a more pleasant note, I found my dress."
He raised his eyebrows at her and smiled. "Dare I ask how much it cost you?" he asked her warily.
Rowan grinned. "Of course you can ask, but I won't answer."
She followed Jack & Alyssa to the door & locked it behind them, turned off the lights & followed Ray upstairs.
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Louisa looked back at Gem.
"C'mon Gem, I see the way to the exit now," she said. Gem frowned at her. What in the world had possessed her to get on a plane and fly to this noisy place? Just because Rowan was getting married, no good reason. The girl should come home and have a proper handfasting. She followed Louisa outside and her eyes narrowed and for a moment, she missed her farm and the quiet and open space.
She lifted her head and steeled her resolve. This place would not get the best of her. She climbed into the taxi next to Louisa and sighed.
"Rowan is going to be so surprised when she sees you," Louisa crowed.
"Yes, won't she just," Gem echoed. She stared at the window while Louisa babbled on excitedly, finally engaging the driver in conversation when Gem seemed unresponsive. Though the driver was having considerable difficulty understanding Louisa, and the feeling was mutual. She paused in conversation to open her wallet and looked at a photo of Junior and the boys. She would miss them, but it was only for a few days and how exciting was this!
"Stop this car," Gem finally barked and the driver quickly pulled over and looked back at the two women.
"Gem, what's the matter?"
"I'm gonna walk for a bit. Been cooped up for too long."
"But I think we're almost there," Louisa said, her tone slightly worried.
"Fine, remember where I got out and you can come find me when you've a mind to," she snapped and slammed the taxi door and began to walk off down the street.
Louisa shared a look at the driver and shrugged.
"She knows her own mind, go on along," she told the driver.
Louisa climbed out of the taxi and thanked the driver as he got their suitcases out for her. She turned, stuck her hands on her hips and looked up at the restaurant with a sharp nod of her head. Just like her mother. She adjusted her overstuffed bag over her shoulder, opened the door, grabbed up the suitcases and went inside.
Rowan was at the counter and her jaw dropped as she saw Louisa come through the door. She let out a small squeal and ran towards her friend.
"I made it," Louisa said as Rowan's arms flew around her.
"So good to see you. I'm glad you could come," Rowan said and after a few minutes, let her friend go.
"Ray's mother is staying here, so she's got the spare room, but there's plenty of room upstairs where the twins sleep. Claire has said you can have her bed and she is going to have a camp out on the couch, her words not mine," Rowan said with a chuckle.
She looked down at the suitcases.
"Two?" and Louisa shrugged. "You can help me carry them then, can't you?" she said and grinned, changing the subject. She wanted Gem to be a surprise.
Rowan picked up one of the suitcases and led Louisa up to the flat. Louisa looked around.
"So, this is home?"
Rowan nodded.
"Bit small isn't it?"
Rowan looked at her. "It's big enough for us," she snorted.
"I'm just kidding, gracious Goddess, Rowan calm down," Louisa said with a giggle.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just getting nervous."
"Why, think Ray won't show up?" Louisa joked and then caught the expression on Rowan's face. "You cannot be thinking that."
Rowan looked down. "I know, but I can't help it sometimes. I guess no matter what you think strange things before the wedding," she admitted.
"Very strange. Now, where is everyone?"
"The twins are at nursery and Ray's at work. His mother is downstairs helping out. The son of a good friend went missing on Friday. The whole Square has been out there, trying to help find him, nothing so far."
"Oh no," Louisa sighed.
Rowan nodded. "So, I've been doing my part by providing free food and drink to all the volunteers. It's one small thing I can do. My sister Alyssa and her husband started taking out boxes I packed up so that people wouldn't have to come all the way back here until they're done."
"Well what are we standing around here for then? You got another hand."
Rowan smiled and led Louisa down to the kitchen.
"Maggie, this is my very dear friend Louisa. We grew up together. She's come for the wedding and she's going to help us out here. Only I don't know how long she'll be good for after such a long plane ride," Rowan introduced. "And Louisa, this is Ray's mother, Maggie."
Louisa put on a brave face and smiled. "I'm okay for a few hours yet," she drawled. "Nice to meet you," she said to Maggie.
Maggie looked up from what she was doing and smiled brightly at Louisa and Rowan.
"You too sweetheart," she smiled and looked at Rowan.
"Any news on little Sammy?" she asked hopefully.
Rowan shook her head.
"No, I just got a text from Lyss and another from Ray. They've moved farther out from the Square, but it's getting harder to make sure they've not passed him at some point. They've run across a few people who have seen him, so at least we know he's still out there & wasn't taken yet," she sighed.
"I reckon the ma is going a bit crazy," Louisa said. "I'm sure I would if one of my boys went missing."
Rowan nodded. "I haven't heard from Alex but Shaz says Gene looks like he hasn't slept."
"It's busy at this time of day too, they're likely to miss him amongst crowds," Maggie sighed.
Maggie looked up at Louisa and nodded. "Ray went missing one time, he was only gone for about half an hour, but I was panicking like god knows what," she said with a small smile. "Turns out he'd gone to the sweet shop to get some of Mrs Robinson's special homemade vanilla fudge, taken all of his pocket money and came back grinning. I was relieved for about a minute before I was mad at him," she smiled.
"I saw Alex's lass earlier. Molly isn't it?" Maggie put in. "She didn't look so good, determined but..." she trailed off and sighed. "I hope they find the poor lad soon."
"I don't think she's coping well either," Rowan agreed.
She went over to the oven and pulled out a roast and began slicing it.
"Can you hand me those rolls, Lou?"
Louisa nodded and picked up the basket and set it down next to Rowan.
"How was your flight?"
"Fine, long," Louisa replied with a chuckle. "Junior acts like he won't be able to get along without me. I pointed out JT and Roxy are both in the same house and JT is actually a better cook than me."
"Junior always was high maintenance, better you than me," Rowan joked.
"If he doesn't trust JT's cooking, he can always go to Gem," Rowan reasoned.
Louisa blanched, but quickly hid it with a chuckle.
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Gem walked along, trying to find the rhythm of this place and adjust to it. She didn't like feeling out of sorts like this. It made her cranky, crankier than usual some would say, she was sure. She knew Rowan had moved to this country in the beginning out of something she thought was love. She had clearly made her home here on this strange soil. She walked along, listening to the traffic and the noise of people as it floated around her, listening to the thump of the soles of the sturdy boots she always wore.
A sharp feeling of loss and fear suddenly invaded the reverie she was creating. She looked around to see a small blond boy standing not far away, clutching an overstuffed backpack. He'd clearly been crying. Gem quickly walked over and despite her years, gracefully knelt before the boy.
"You look mighty lost to me, little man," she observed. "Ain't nobody tried to help you find your ma and pa?" she asked gently as she rested her hands on her knees.
Sammy looked up at the lady cautiously. He lived in London, he knew well enough that in London no one stopped to see if you were okay, he'd learnt that much over the last few days. People had brushed past him and completely ignored him. He'd wandered around trying to find something that looked familiar, but he hadn't. He'd asked someone to take him to the police station because that's where his Daddy would be but no one had paid any attention to him. Now here was this lady with a funny voice that he didn't know asking if he was all right.
Sammy clutched his bag a little tighter and shook his head. "No," he whispered. "I don't know where I am," he added quietly as he looked at her. "I want my Mummy and my Daddy," he said into the material of the bag.
Gem nodded, her arms resting comfortably on her knees.
"Well, I reckon I should help you then," she said, trying to speak more clearly. The look on the boy's face was the one she had to seen on Ray's face when he didn't understand her.
"My name is Gem. I'm on my way to visit some family here. A girl I raised when her folks passed on. She'll know who to call. I think you can tell I'm not from these parts," she said & smiled.
"Now, you tell me your name and we'll be introduced."
"Sam Hunt," he told her. "But everyone calls me Sammy," he offered as he watched her curiously.
"Mighty nice to make your acquaintance, Sammy," Gem said. She held out her hand to him and looked around for one of the black cabs she and Louisa had been riding in earlier. She finally spotted one and stuck two fingers in her mouth and let out a piercing whistle before waving at it. The cab quickly pulled over.
"You too," Sammy said back politely.
Gem looked down at Sam. "Hop in," she said to him and climbed in after.
"Walford Diner, please," she told the driver politely.
Sammy settled himself in the seat of the cab next to the window, still clutching tightly at his bag. He looked up sharply at the mention of Walford.
"My sister lives in Walford," he told her.
She looked down at Sammy's comment.
"I tried to look for signs, but I don't know how to spell it," he added quietly. "Mummy's only taught me how to spell names."
"Do you know my girl, then, Rowan?" Gem wanted to know. She remembered the name Hunt from Rowan's letters and JT and Roxy both had spoken of police they were somewhat friendly with by that name. Gem was sure it wasn't coincidence and if he knew Rowan well then knowing Gem was a relation might set his mind more at ease. At least she hoped so.
Sammy looked back at her and nodded eagerly. "She makes nice food," he told her. "Her pancakes are the best! Mummy likes her chocolate muffins," he explained. Sammy dangled his feet over the edge of the seat and kicked them idly for a moment before looking back up at Gem.
"She talks a bit like you," he observed.
"Ray works with my Mummy and Daddy, he's marrying Rowan," he told Gem knowledgeably.
"What are you doing away from home ?" Gem wanted to know.
Sammy looked down. "I don't like nursery. So I escaped and was going to Molly's, but I got lost," he told her.
Gem smiled gently as the words began to tumble from his mouth. Nope, she hadn't lost her touch. Though, why little ones didn't fear her when their parents did was beyond her.
"I reckon she would talk a bit like me, we're from the same place as it happens," Gem agreed. "And I should hope she can make nice food, I taught her how to make it."
"Rowan getting married is why I'm here," she told him and then leaned over conspiratorially. "Only she's not in the way of knowing that I'm here, it's in the way of being a surprise."
Sammy looked up at her and nodded seriously. "Like a secret," he said.
"That will happen, specially when you cain't read," she said. "But why wouldn't you like nursery? I assume there's other little ones to play with?"
Sammy frowned at her. "I can read," he insisted. "Mummy and I read a lot, I just don't know the word Walford," he said unhappily.
Sammy shook his head, then nodded then frowned again. "There others there," he agreed. "They just never play with me," he mumbled and squeezed his bag tighter and pulled his legs up onto the seat as he began to get upset again.
Gem listened intently and nodded along.
"Yes, indeedy," Gem said.
Gem rummaged in the bag Louisa had insisted she bring and pulled out a piece of paper and wrote "Walford" on it. She handed it to Sammy. "That says 'Walford'," she told him with a sharp nod.
"Why on earth would they not want to play with a nice little man such as yourself?" Gem wanted to know. She glanced out the window as they stopped at a light and gestured at some boys playing in a park.
"Do you know them?" she asked curiously.
Sammy took the paper and looked at the word curiously. He recognised the letters and folded the paper carefully and put it into his pocket for safekeeping. "Thank you," he said to her.
He shrugged at her and sighed heavily.
Sammy lifted his head and looked out of the window too. He watched them for a moment then sank back into his seat and nodded. "Yes," he replied glumly.
"Driver, could you pull over please," she asked and at the look on his face, she frowned. The driver's eyes widened at Gem's expression and he quickly pulled to the curb. Gem opened the taxi door and ushered Sammy out of the taxi. She leaned over at the open window.
"You just wait, we won't be long," she told the driver and he nodded quickly. Gem took Sammy's hand and led him over towards the boys. The boys caught sight of Sammy and rushed over wanting to know where he'd gone, had he been kidnapped, had this lady rescued him, where had he been, did he know practically everyone in Walford was looking for him, had he been scared...
Gem stepped back and let the boys talk. After a couple of minutes, the boys calmed.
"We're playing footie, wanna join the game?" one of them asked. Gem walked over at that point and put a hand on Sammy's shoulder.
"We should let your ma and pa know you're okay, first, you young men will be here for some time won't you?" she asked. The boys nodded.
She looked down at Sammy. "What do you think?"
He looked up at her happily and nodded. He waved to the other boys as he made his way back to the taxi with Gem. The other boys had actually wanted to talk to him and play with him. Now all he wanted was his parents.
"Are we still going to see Rowan?" he asked her, he hadn't really eaten since he had left the Nursery and he was feeling hungry.
Gem helped Sammy back into the cab.
"Of course we are," Gem assured him. "And she can let your folks know you're okay," she added. She gestured at the driver to move along.
Gene sat in the car and stared at the park where the "bullies" were playing. It was their fault his son was gone and he could do nothing about it. He lit up another smoke with a sigh.
"Sammy-Boy, where are you?"
Lucy sat at her desk, poring over the map of the search areas, marking in where they'd already looked. They must be just missing him. It was frustrating. She hated seeing the Guv and DI Hunt like this, they'd done so much for her.
"Any joy?" Chris asked her. She looked at her phone and shook her head.
"We're still getting people who saw Sammy at one point, but never soon enough that we could get him."
Ray came out of the kitchen carefully balancing three mugs on a tray. He hadn't seen much of Alex or Gene all weekend. He kept getting texts from Alex begging for news, begging for him to say that they had found Sammy. He felt so helpless that he couldn't tell her what she wanted to hear, he tried every time to give her some glimmer of hope, but those glimmers were fast running short.
He headed over to Lucy's desk and set the tray down, spreading the mugs out so that Chris and Lucy both had one as well as himself. He glanced at the map.
"Anything new?" he asked as he searched it for something that hadn't been there the last time he had looked.
"No," Lucy said simply, her tone dejected as she hung her head. She pointed her pen at the map. "Look at these gaps, he could be so close to the Square and just slipping past the people looking for him. He probably hides in an empty house or something at night," she shook her head and then banged her fists on the desk.
"It's just so bloody frustrating!"
Chris patted her on the shoulder, being careful not to be overly familiar in front of Ray. "There, there, you're doing loads."
Ray sighed and let Chris comfort her.
"Well, we know that he's out there somewhere. We've got Tonnes of people looking for him. We'll find him Lucy, don't get yourself worked up," he said gently.
"We need everyone to keep as cool as possible, for Gene and Alex's sakes if nothing else."
"Yes, but they're not here now, so I can have a tantrum without upsetting them," Lucy retorted and then picked up her tea and took a sip. She glanced up at them.
"I'm surprised no one has taken issue with me for sort of being in charge. I wasn't trying to take over, I thought I could help get things started and then the Guv or DI Hunt would take over," she said wearily. "But they never did, and nobody else took it over, so I had to keep it going."
"They all think you're following the Guv's orders," Chris told her. "That you're passing along what he says. They're pretty impressed that you're working so hard. They seemed to think you wouldn't," he added and picked up his tea.
"I better get back to it," he said and left to go back to his desk.
Ray watched Chris go and then looked back at Lucy.
"Besides, it's all good experience for you, and you're managing okay," he told her and patted her shoulder. "You're doing a good job Lucy, just keep your head and keep going," he told her.
Lucy looked up at Ray gratefully. "As long as others don't think I'm trying to get above myself or something," she said ruefully and made a face.
"I just hope we find him," she sighed and gazed back down at the map.
Ray shook his head. "Listen, if you can take charge in a situation like this and have no one challenge you, then you know that you're doing a good job," he told her.
"Yeah, well, only because it's the Guv's son and everyone is preoccupied," she said and took a drink of her tea.
/\\\/\\/\/\/\\\/\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\/\
Alyssa sat back down in the car after handing out the last box that Rowan had given them and sighed heavily. They'd been looking for Sammy all weekend and he still hadn't been found. She knew that Molly had taken it on herself to keep looking and she was sure that Peter was glued to her side. Alex had looked awful last time that she had seen her too, Alyssa knew she had been crying: her face was red and her eyes were bloodshot and puffy. She hoped Sammy was found soon, people had recognised his picture but no one could say for certain where he was.
She looked out of the car door at Jack.
"Lets go back to Rowan's and get something to eat, then we can see if there's any more news," she suggested.
Jack nodded.
"Sounds as good an idea as any," he said agreeably.
"Isn't that mate of hers supposed to get here today?" he asked as he slid behind the wheel of the car. He sighed slightly as he started it up. He really wished Alyssa would let him show her how to drive so he didn't have to drive all the time.
He drove them back to the restaurant and took her hand as they went inside. One thing good thing to come out of this, she was letting him touch her again, granted, only holding hands and the occasional peck on the cheek, but she seemed to be gradually forgiving him, for which he was very grateful.
He waved as he walked in the mostly empty place. Monday was usually buzzing, but Rowan's staunch support of the Hunts by requiring her customers to go join the search meant there weren't many people about.
"We have delivered all the food and have had no more news. How about you?" Jack wanted to know.
"No, nothing," Rowan told him. "I think Lucy is going nuts," Rowan added and pointed at the map Lucy had hung on the wall. "She can't understand why he can't be found with so many people looking."
Louisa came out of the kitchen with a tray of brownies and smiled at the newcomers. "Hello," she greeted.
Rowan glanced back. "Oh, Jack, Lyss, this is Louisa, my best friend when I was growing up," she told them.
Alyssa glanced at the map and sighed. "He must just be slipping through gaps, we know he's still somewhere in the area, people have seen him." She looked up at Louisa and smiled as she slid her hand into hers. "Lovely to meet you."
Louisa quickly put the tray down. "I'm so glad to finally meet you," she drawled and grabbed Jack's hand to shake it. Jack chuckled.
"It's good to meet you, too," he said and shook her hand back. He caught sight of Maggie and excused himself so Louisa and Alyssa could shake hands.
"I've heard so much about you," Louisa gushed at Alyssa. "I'm so glad she's got a good friend here."
Rowan rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"You're getting to be as bad as Gem," Rowan scolded and nodded at some search volunteers who came in. She followed them to a table.
Louisa watched her go and then looked back at Alyssa.
"Tell me she's as happy as she seems," Louisa half-begged.
Alyssa frowned slightly at Louisa and looked over at where Rowan was busy serving.
"I think so, she's just a little worried about the wedding and worried about Sammy," she said.
"But she's happy," Alyssa said with a small nod.
Louisa smiled hugely. "Good. No one was sure. She always had such..." Louisa trailed off and shrugged, "unusual expectations. I know she came to visit and we all saw how they were together, but, it's something completely different to see her, you know, at home. And now with the children, and the wedding, well," she glanced over at Rowan who was still busy and leaned closer to Alyssa. "Rowan doesn't know yet, but Gem's come with me. She didn't like being in the taxi, so she's walking for a little while, trying to adjust to this place. It's a surprise, so don't tell her."
"Trust me, she's happy," Alyssa promised her.
Alyssa's eyes widened. "Seriously?" she beamed and pressed her lips shut. "I won't say a word," she promised.
"Maggie, My Treasure, please tell me you have made me a proper cup of tea?" he pleaded as he walked towards her.
Maggie looked up at Jack, shook her head briefly, and pushed the mug towards him. "Here," she smiled at him and looked up at him hopefully. "Don't suppose you've got any news?" she asked him.
Jack shook his head. "Same everywhere we go, they saw him yesterday or maybe the day before or maybe a few hours ago. It's very frustrating."
He drank down half the tea and sighed. "Oh, that hits the spot," he told her and handed her back the cup. He walked over to Alyssa.
Maggie sighed and nodded. "Everyone else is saying the same thing," she told him.
Maggie took the mug back and put it in the washer as she watched him go.
"I'm going to go find Gene again and see if I can't convince him to close his eyes for five minutes. He's going to kill someone at this rate," he whispered to her and squeezed her shoulder.
Alyssa nodded at him. "Okay, try to get him to eat something as well," she told him.
"Not sure how successful I'll be," Jack sighed and left. This time of day Gene was probably parked outside the nursery, waiting to see if Sammy would come walking up.
/\\\/\\/\/\/\\\/\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\/\
Gem eyed the diner as they pulled up in front of it and a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She climbed out of the cab and helped Sammy out. She dug into the bag Louisa had made her carry and found some money. She counted some bills out and handed them to the driver before leading Sammy into the restaurant.
Rowan turned as she heard the door open and walked around to see who had come in. She saw Gem and the tray she was carrying fell from her hands and clattered to the floor. Gem smiled.
"Hello, my girl," Gem greeted. Rowan flung herself at Gem and squeezed. Gem chuckled and wrapped her arms around the girl. Rowan let go and looked over at Louisa.
"You could have told me," Rowan accused and Louisa grinned.
"She told me not to," Louisa said and spread her hands in surrender. Rowan shook her head and looked back at Gem.
"I had to be here for your wedding didn't I?" Gem asked her. "Oh, I found a stray while I was on my way here."
She moved away slightly from Rowan and gestured at Sammy. Rowan's jaw dropped.
"Sammy?" she gasped. "Lyss, call Gene and Alex, Gem's found Sammy," she called over. She eyed Gem a moment. The woman did always seem to be in the right place at the right time.
Rowan knelt down in front of the boy. "Are you hungry?" she asked him quietly.
Sammy nodded at Rowan. "Yeah," he told her. "Can I have a drink too?" he asked her. "Please," he added quickly.
Rowan nodded. "Of course, you can have whatever you want."
She straightened up and led him over to a table.
"Wait right here," she told him and left him standing next to the table.
Alyssa immediately whipped out her phone and sent a text to Jack. He said he had gone to search for Gene, and she knew that Gene didn't actually own a phone. She fired off a text to Ray so that he could let the station know then dialled Alex's number.
"Hello," came the morose response.
"Alex!" Alyssa said, relief filling her. "Sammy's at the Restaurant," she said.
"What!" Alex sat bolt upright and grabbed up her car keys "I'm on my way!"
/\\\/\\/\/\/\\\/\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\/\
Jack pulled up behind the Quattro. He looked at the car for a moment and then got out of his own car and walked over.
"You really need to eat and rest," Jack said his tone slightly scolding.
"I have to find Sammy," Gene snapped.
"You're not going to do any good if you collapse from no sleep and no food."
Gene glared at him. "I'm fine."
/\\\/\\/\/\/\\\/\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\/\
Ray frowned at Lucy. "Stop putting yourself down," he told her and grabbed his phone as it beeped. His frown deepened. "You sure?"
Alyssa snorted at the text back from Ray. "Yeah, coz I'd make it up wouldn't I?"
Ray sighed at Alyssa's text and then smiled. He turned to Lucy.
"Chin up, Sammy's been found," he told her.
Lucy beamed at Ray and tossed the map aside.
"Thank goodness for that," she said and began to send out texts to her friends amongst the searchers so the groups could all go back to what they were doing.
/\\\/\\/\/\/\\\/\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\/\
Alex drove like a maniac through Walford until she pulled up outside Rowan's. She gazed at the window and could see him. She could feel her heart thumping in her chest as she ran out of the car and bolted into the restaurant, grabbing her son up off the floor and holding him tight to her. His little arms came around her neck as she hugged him fiercely, tears falling.
"Don't ever run off like that again, Sammy!" she choked out as finally set him back on the floor and knelt opposite him, she stroked his hair as she checked him over. "You're okay, you're okay," she murmured and then looked at his face.
"Do you feel okay?" she asked him. He nodded. "Just hungry," he said and she nodded.
"Where's Daddy?" Sammy asked her quietly and she pulled him into another hug, kissing his sand coloured hair. "He'll be here sweetheart, he'll be here," she promised him.
/\\\/\\/\/\/\\\/\\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\/\
Gem looked around the restaurant and sat down. Louisa walked over and sat down with her.
"I'm told she's happy," Louisa said and Gem looked at her.
"Of course she's happy," Gem snorted. She glanced over at Sammy. "He will be soon enough."
They all turned to look as Alex came bursting into the restaurant. Rowan smiled and carried over the plate with a sandwich and chips on it and a glass of chocolate milk in the other hand. She put it on the table and smiled at Alex.
"Gem happened across him. She said he was standing at a bus stop and crying."
Alex gestured for Sammy to sit down and eat and she smiled up at Rowan and brushed at her eyes. "I should thank her," she said.
Sammy looked up at his mother and pointed at Gem. "That's her over there, she's very nice," he said with a smile as he ate hungrily.
"Hey!" Alex said with a small frown. "Slow down Sammy, you'll make yourself sick"
Alex pulled out her phone and sent a text to Molly.