“Right,” Mike says, taking charge. “Put down the phone and call the police. I’m coming straight over. I’ll be there as quick as I can.”
With shaking hands, I do as he instructed, swiping the End Call button and dialling nine-nine-nine. A calm lady on the other end of the phone takes my details and tells me they’re sending someone round right away.
I don’t know what to do with myself. There’s only one person I want by my side.
Not wanting to be on the phone too long in case someone’s trying to get through with news of Dylan, I quickly swiped his number.
Kane answers after one ring. “Hey, beautiful. I was just going to call you.”
I don’t have time for small talk. “I need you here. Dylan’s missing.”
“Oh, shit. I’m on my way.”
I put down the phone and pace the house, my fingers at my mouth as I anxiously chew my nails. Where the hell has Dylan gone? I pray he’s safe. I can’t even bring myself to consider the worst possible scenario. I’ll lose my mind if anything ever happens to him.
The police are the first to arrive, two uniformed officers standing on my doorstep, asking to come in. They sit me down in my living room and my head spins with all their questions. When had I seen him last? What had he been wearing? Is everything okay at home? Does he have any reason to run away?
“Me and his dad have separated,” I admit. “We haven’t been getting on so well lately. Dylan’s dad doesn’t like my new boyfriend.” I know how that sounds. I don’t miss the look exchanged between the two police officers. I don’t want to be that woman—I’mnotthat woman—the one who has multiplemen hanging around. But I also know how this must appear to the police.
The doorbell rings, and I jump to my feet. I hope to see Dylan standing on the doorstep, looking contrite, but it’s Kane, which is the next best thing. I fall into his arms, crying against his chest.
“My boy,” I sob. “My baby boy is missing.”
Kane holds me tight and strokes my hair. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay. We’re going to find him.”
I sniff and nod against him. I hate being in the house, doing nothing. I feel so useless, but the police told me I’m best staying home in case Dylan comes back again. They said he will want to see his mother when he does.
Mike is the last to arrive. He pushes his way into the house, not bothering to knock.
“Where is he?” Mike demands as soon as he sees Kane. “Where’s my son?” He jabs a finger in Kane’s direction. “If I find out you’ve got anything to do with my son going missing, I will fucking kill you.”
One of the police officers steps in. “Now, there’s no need for language like that.”
My ex-husband turns on the officer. “This man is a goddamned criminal. He shouldn’t be allowed around children.”
I couldn’t believe he actually spouted his prejudices to a police officer. “Stop being such an idiot, Mike. This has nothing to do with Kane. If Dylan took off, it was because he was upset about you and me fighting, and that was all on your head. No one else started it.”
But Mike isn’t even listening. “I mean it, Holly. You should never have allowed this type of person around our son. What kind of mother are you, putting your own selfish needs before your child?”
“Hey, that’s enough,” Kane says, stepping in. “Holly is a fantastic mother.”
I put out my hand. “It’s okay, Kane. I can handle this.” I take a breath and focus my anger on my ex. Instead of shouting, I speak in a low voice, spitting out every word. “You fucking hypocrite. After you spent five years of our marriage sleeping around, you’ve got the nerve to sayIwasn’t thinking about our son! I bet you weren’t thinking about him when you had your dick in all those other women.”
The police officer puts a hand out to stop us. “We need to focus on finding Dylan. It seems quite clear the boy has become distressed by this kind of anger in the house and has taken himself off somewhere. Is there anywhere you can think he might have gone? Maybe to a friend’s house or to any other family living nearby?”
I shake my head, guilt worming its way through me. God, we’re awful people. Poor Dylan being stuck with me and Mike as parents. “No, I don’t think so. There’s nowhere else I think he’d rather be.”
16
KANE
I’ve been watching the exchange between Holly and her ex-husband with a combination of anger and dismay. I never meant to cause problems between any of them, and certainly not to the point where Dylan would want to run away from home. But something about Holly saying there isn’t anywhere else Dylan would rather be sparks a memory, and I experience a definite light-bulb moment.
“I think I know where he might be.”
Everyone looks at me.
Holly’s blue eyes widen in hope. “What?”
