Chapter 4
2:45: the end of the school day. I'd been on edge ever since I'd dropped Emma off, expecting a teacher to phone at any minute bearing bad news. I don't know why I was so worried – it's not like I hadn't left Emma with other people before. I'd left her with Dad before, and Adam. I guess it was the idea of leaving her in the care of strangers which accelerated my heart rate. But the whole day had passed without incident and I was completely relieved.
I arrived at the school with a smile and navigated my way to the massive hall where the children were collected from. I was a few minutes late, but punctuality didn't seem too important because there were still hundreds of children sitting on the wooden floor playing clapping games or chattering away.
I found Miss Kasey among the rabble.
"Hi!" I said to her, "I've come to pick up my daughter, Emma."
Miss Kasey slowly pored down the class register with her ringed index finger. She frowned. My smile faltered.
"What's wrong?" I demanded, every hint of politeness leaving my voice.
"Emma's name is crossed out. She's already left-"
"There must be some mistake! Who did she go with?" I interrupted.
"Let me see…" Miss Kasey's finger travelled to a column next to Emma's name, titled 'name of adult who child left with' , but my eyes got there first….
And then I panicked.