They were searching the estate today. Jodie had told Sandy that they thought Mina had come back there on Wednesday after school but hadn’t said who had seen her. What did that even mean, thought Sandy? That she’d come to the flat? That she was there overnight? If she’d been there, Sandy would know, wouldn’t she? Maybe she had been here and left again, taking her cuggy. But where would she have gone?
Brett hadn’t texted since last night. Sandy could feel him slipping away from her since he’d been interviewed by the police. They’d done it in his flat, hadn’t taken him in or anything, but she could tell it had pissed him off. So there goes another one, she thought. He was all right, too. Would she even be able to work there now? The thought of going back to work seemed so odd, so unlikely. If they didn’t find Mina, things could never go back to normal, could they? The world might move on, forget about her, but Sandy never could. What the hell would she do with her life? How could she even have a life after this?
She’d turned her phone’s sound off because the notifications had been driving her round the bend when she was trying to sleep. Now she looked at the screen. Twenty plus notifications on Facebook. Twenty plus on Twitter. She didn’t need to read them. Unfit mother. Scum. Waste of space.
There were new texts, though. Maybe it was Brett. She opened them up.
Oh no.
It was them.
Alex, can we call you? M & D
Is there any news? We’re here for you. M & D
We’ll see you later. M & D xx
What the fuck? Alex. Just seeing the name made her hear her mum’s voice, that trademark tone which could indicate judgement, disapproval and disappointment so effortlessly. She hadn’t seen her parents for about seven years. It had been a relief to finally cut the apron strings – a massive weight off her shoulders. They’d called and texted for six months or so and always messaged at Christmas and on her and Mina’s birthdays, but she’d hadn’t replied and she hadn’t sent them her address here.
We’ll see you later? She guessed the whole world knew where she lived now.