The local station is drifting from the speakers, the drive-time presenters discussing the news.
‘So what are our thoughts on “The Taken”, as the evening paper has dubbed them? Tweet us using #TheTaken.’
Aidan swerves off the road, tyres bumping over the grass verge. He slams his foot on the brake and sits, his foot pushing against the pedal, his fingers clenched around the steering wheel. His whole body rigid.
‘It’s shocking that two teenage boys from our town have gone missing, isn’t it, Steve? @Dps1978_1 says “worried to let my own kids out”. If I was a parent I’d feel the same.’
‘I can tell you, Helen, my kids have all grown and you never stop worrying about them. Here’s another tweet from @Lgray591: “2 of the 3 boys were involved in the tragedy at Penton Outwards Bounds Centre. Coincidence?”’
‘Can it be connected, Steve? We can’t speculate too much. The other boy involved must be terrified that two of his friends are missing.’
‘Another tweet from @cb247drive: “2 down, 1 to go”. That sounds ominous.’
‘It does. But let’s not forget that although they are seventeen, they are children so show some respect.’
Aidan snaps off the radio. He hopes Lucy isn’t listening. When he arrives home, it’s a relief to find her with both boys on the sofa, watching one of the Batman movies but if people are gossiping, how long can he shield his wife and sons from the damage idle tongues can cause?
He kisses the top of Lucy’s head. Her face is grey. She looks exhausted. Her top is on inside out.
‘Hey.’ He gently tugs at the label on the outside. ‘I hope you haven’t been out like this?’
‘Oh.’ She looks confused. ‘I was in a rush to get changed. I got blood on my other top.’
‘Blood?’
‘I dropped a glass putting it in the dishwasher and cut my finger.’
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes,’ she says, but he can see she isn’t. He had hoped she’d relax once Kieron came home but then they didn’t know the results of his latest liver function test.
They didn’t know about Ryan.
Every time Ryan pops into his head there’s a tightening of his chest. He’s practically grown up in this house, in this family. Aidan recalls the time the boys were wrestling in the garden and Ryan lost a tooth. He’d come running into the kitchen to show Aidan. It was Aidan who had helped him wrap it in tissue and pop it under the pillow on the bottom bunk in Connor’s room. It was Aidan who slipped into the room when the boys were fast asleep, replacing the tooth with a shiny pound coin.
However distressed he feels, it must be a million times worse for Melissa, and Fergus. Had it not been for Tyler also going missing, the obvious explanation is that Fergus has taken Ryan, but if that was the case Ryan would have been in touch with Mel, with Connor.
He’d tried to call Fergus again today, left another voicemail. It didn’t seem right to mention Ryan over text but he had little choice.
I’m so sorry about Ryan, he had sent. He didn’t get a reply, he wasn’t really expecting one, but this time he could see that Fergus had opened the message. That had to be a good sign, didn’t it?
He has to keep believing that they will all get through this. He’ll be the positive one. He crouches before Lucy and takes her hands. ‘Everything will be okay.’ Their gazes lock. He sees that she wants to believe him and wanting something is always the start, isn’t it? ‘We’ll be okay. All of us.’ This it what he wants more than anything, and as she nods, squeezing his fingers, he is relieved that she wants this too. Wants them. He’s been so distracted, so caught up in her and all the implications of their ill-fated relationship he’s almost forgotten what’s most important.
His wife.
His children.
Everything he needs is right here. He has such a lot of making up to do he doesn’t quite know where to start but he says, ‘I’ll cook tonight. Do you want a cup of tea while you wait?’
It’s a small kindness but Lucy’s eyes fill with tears.
He is floored by a love that is fierce. ‘Look. I don’t have to go to this conference on Monday.’
‘But your CPD?’
Vets have to undertake 105 hours of Continuing Professional Development over a three-year period.
‘I know, but I can do it another time. You’re more important. All of you. You absolutely come first.’
For a moment his words hang heavy, the frown that creases Lucy’s forehead disappears and he can imagine her holding his promises to her chest. She’s wavering but still she says, ‘But they won’t give you a refund now, and you’ve paid for the hotel room.’
‘It’s fine.’
‘No… go. You’re only half an hour away, you’re often called out further than that. If we need you, you can come back. Look… when you come home everything will be different.’ She touches his face, her palm is warm as it rests on his cheek.
‘Go, Dad.’ Connor chimes in. ‘Staying here won’t bring Ryan and Tyler back and I’m not going to school next week if they haven’t been found so you know I’ll be safe.’
‘But Kieron’s got to see Dr Peters.’
‘He won’t tell us anything new. Kieron’s only just been discharged but I’ll take him to be cautious and to book the next appointment.’
Now Aidan is the one who’s unsure. ‘I don’t know—’
‘Mum does and she wants you to go and she wants a cup of tea!’ Kieron pipes up. ‘And while you’re making it, I’ll have a hot chocolate please!’
Aidan forces a laugh for his son. ‘You lot are so bossy. Want anything, Connor?’
‘Is a beer out of the question?’
Aidan doesn’t answer but while he waits for the kettle to boil he uncaps a bottle of Becks from the fridge.
He scoops the teabag out of Lucy’s mug and stamps too firmly on the pedal for the bin. It tips open, spilling rubbish across the kitchen. He tosses back in a banana skin, an eggshell. Scoops up a screwed-up piece of paper. That should be in the recycling. As he carries it towards the back door, he can’t help opening it.
AN EYE FOR AN EYE.
It stops him in his tracks.
AN EYE FOR AN EYE.
Revenge.
That one word is cold and hard and terrifying.
AN EYE FOR AN EYE.
Oh God. He wants to grab his family and run. Do they know? How will he explain? He stares at the letter wondering who found it.
Lucy?
Connor?
Kieron?
More importantly, did they guess it was for him?