“This is Police Constable Blair,” Mark informs me, pointing towards the woman, “and PC Carter.” He motions at the man. “They are from the local police station. I have worked with Steven Carter in the past,” he comments as he pats his hand on Carter’s shoulder. PC Carter then walks into the kitchen.
“Hi,” is all I can utter. I just want my daughter back. I feel like I’m going to be sick again, so I place my hand over my mouth.
Mia stands there, smiling at me before walking away to the kitchen to join Annabella, who is talking with PC Carter.
“Hi, I’m Becky,” PC Blair says, sitting on the sofa beside me and stroking down her uniform. “We need to know all about Lucy and when you last saw her. I plan to be as quick as I can.” She takes out her notepad and pen.
“Sorry, Megan. Here is some water,” Mia says, handing me the glass and a little packet of tissues. “I don’t want you to get sick again.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking a little sip of the water before turning back to PC Blair. “Lucy is my only child.” I inhale deeply, trying to hold back the tears. “I don’t know anyone around here. I don’t know who could have taken her. They got into the house. It makes no sense.” I feel myself opening up to her. I have nothing to hide. I just want my daughter back.
“Megan, this is Natasha. She is a liaison officer, and she is going to spend some time with you. She will keep you up-to-date with everything that is happening. We will find your daughter,” she says, motioning for Natasha to come and join us. I didn’t see Natasha enter the house at all. Why didn’t she come in with Becky? It would have made more sense.
Natasha is tall with skin like chocolate and brown hair that is tied neatly into a bun. As she comes to sit next to Becky, she lets out a beaming smile with pearly white straight teeth. “Hi, Miss Madden. I’m Natasha.”
“Call me Megan,” I state, looking down at the floor. I have never liked being referred to as Miss Madden or Ma’am. It makes me seem old. I have always been told you use those names for your elders, and I am definitely not an elder.
“Megan.” She pauses. “I’m going to sit with you and help you with everything until we locate your daughter. If you want to know anything at all, just ask me. I will give you all the information you need and help you as much as I can.”
“Thank you,” I say, trying to remain calm. “Who has my daughter?”
“I don’t know, Megan,” Becky says. “Can we ask you a few more questions?”
I nod, feeling some movement behind me. I turn around to see Mark sitting on the arm of the sofa. He pulls me close to him. I need to be as close to him as I can get. I don’t want him to let me go. I just want it to be Mark, Lucy, and me. It was supposed to be the three of us for a planned family day today. Mark even bought some films that were appropriate for Lucy. I was looking forward to it; it was just what I needed.
“Are you both Lucy’s parents?” she asks, looking over at Mark who sits there shaking his head. I smile at him, turning back around to face Becky. A tear rolls down my face.
“No, a man named John is her dad. He lives in Yorkshire. He has never had any contact with her. In fact, he has no interest in her,” I state. Tears are now streaming down my face. “He cheated on me or on his wife. I don’t know who came first. He has other children.”
I lose count of how many questions she asks me about my past and past lovers. I feel like everything about me has just been said. I don’t understand how that information is going to help find Lucy. I don’t even know how Mark coped listening to that stuff. I said things that I have never shared with him or anyone else.
Mia passes my mobile back to me. She winks at me before walking over to Carter. I can tell she’s trying to flirt with him, and I’m not at all surprised. He is a male. I just hope she behaves herself. He isn’t here to flirt; he is here to find my daughter.
“Will someone please find my daughter?” I yell.