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It should frighten me to hear him speak of killing someone, but I don’t have it in me to care.
“Then you better get out of here.” Taking a deep breath, I add, “I won’t say anything to the officers, but I want my son in my arms before his bedtime.”
He goes to kiss me, but I step back and walk around his brothers. They don’t try to stop me. As I step into the house, I hear the rumble of their bikes come to life. I close the door once their engines fade and lean against the wall. The two liaison officers are waiting in the living room, and while one is looking at the photographs I have around of Thomas, the other is standing by the window.
“We’re aware of who your partner is, and that he’s a member of the local motorcycle club. Is there anything we should know, Evie?” she asks.
Even after everything I’ve been through, I’ve never once lied to the police. I admitted my crime when the supermarket manager called the officers, and then when I was in court. But when it comes to my son, I do have more faith in Louis and his brothers than I do the police. I don’t trust the system, yet I trust Louis to make the arsehole who took my son pay, and he’ll do it in such a way, there’ll be no coming back.
“No. They were just telling me they’re going out to look for Thomas, promising me they’ll find him and bring him home.”
Sighing, she takes a seat on the couch, her brow arched. “The more information we have, the faster we’ll find your son.”
“If I had anything, I’d give it to you.”
The two officers share a look as I sit on the edge of the armchair. It’s been a couple of hours since I got the call from the school, and I’m doing my best not to break down. Biting down on my thumbnail, I ignore the officers and close my eyes.
“Would you like me to make you a cup of tea? Coffee?” one of the officers asks.
I open my eyes. “Tea, please.”
“Milk and sugar?”
“Milk and two sugars.”
As soon as she leaves the room, the other officer stands. “Why don’t you show me Thomas’s room?”
I frown. “Why?”
“So we can see if there’s anything there that can help us find him.”
I don’t see how, considering I know someone has him, but I keep my mouth shut and lead her up the stairs.
“You have a lovely home. I love all the photos you have everywhere,” she murmurs behind me.
“Thank you.”
I offer nothing more, and she doesn’t push. The last thing I want to do is swap home decor tips. As I stop to open Thomas’s door, I see her beady eyes checking out my room. Thankfully, I made the bed this morning and picked up the dirty clothes from the floor. Not that it really matters under the circumstances. I don’t even know why I’m thinking about such things at a time like this.
I step back to let her walk in first, and she picks up Thomas’s colouring book.
Flipping through the pages, she notes, “He sure likes motorbikes.”
“Yes. My partner has one, and he fell in love as soon as he saw it,” I tell her.
“Is it a relatively new relationship?”
Here we go.
“Yes, but Thomas likes Louis. He gets all excited when he’s around, and Louis is really good with him. They both get on great.”
Putting the book down, she insists, “I’m not trying to make you feel uncomfortable, Evie. When it comes to a missing child, the more we know about them, the better.”
“I understand, but Louis has been good to us.”
Even under the lie, I can’t not defend him, because he has been good to us. It’s just his past that’s chasing him through Thomas.
Sitting on Thomas’s bed, I pick up his Superman teddy and hold it to my chest. “When he laughs, and he can’t stop, his little cheeks go pink. He finds the silliest things the funniest.”
