Chapter 49
Jenni stopped abruptly outside her flat and turned to Ben. ‘This is me,’ she said, pushing open the metal gate.
‘Thank you. For helping and everything. I really appreciate it.’
‘It’s okay,’ said Ben. ‘Try and get some sleep. I’ll come over in the morning and we can blitz the neighbourhood with the posters.’
Jenni nodded. ‘I’ll call my boss first thing and take a day’s holiday. I’m owed loads of leave.’
It was far later than Jenni realised. After the initial search of the cat house, behind the bins and at the very end of Ben’s garden, he’d made them both a cup of tea and they’d talked about the bizarre set of circumstances they found themselves in. And it was bizarre, they both agreed.
Ben had explained how he had turned up at the gallery that night, but had left quickly when he saw Jenni with another man, and Jenni had reassured him that Tim was not only her work friend, but also happily married. If it wasn’t all so ludicrous, it would have been funny.
But with Oscar missing, nothing was funny to Jenni, and while she was – she had to admit – relieved she hadn’t been stood up by Ben, again, she couldn’t imagine how they might be able to move past all the confusion and coincidence.
Jenni watched Ben walk away, fighting the urge to call out to him and invite him in, not wanting to be on her own, or, if she was honest, not wanting the evening to end. They still had so much to unpick.
But instead of calling him back, Jenni pushed open her front door, hope flaring that Oscar might be there waiting for her.
But the flat was empty and Oscar still wasn’t home.
Jenni pulled on her pyjamas and sat despondently on the sofa. She thought of Oscar hiding somewhere, injured and scared, all alone and in pain. Her heart broke to think of him so vulnerable and confused, not knowing how to get home, wondering why she hadn’t rescued him.
A ping on her phone made her jump. She picked it up to see a text from Ben.
I know you’re worried but we’re going to find him, I promise.
And for some reason she couldn’t explain, she believed him.
Exhausted, Jenni sat slumped at the kitchen table, covering her face with her hands.
They’d been out since ten that morning. Now, nine hours later, posters of Oscar covered every lamppost, fence, tree, sign and wall in the neighbourhood.
They’d also knocked on every door, but no one they’d spoken to had seen him.
Ben sat down opposite her, reaching for her hands, and pulled them away from her face. Despair was making her brown eyes muddy and her skin was pale and ghostly.
‘Listen, we’ve done everything we can for now,’ he said. ‘Oscar’s photo is circulating on every WhatsApp group in a five-mile radius, we’ve put posters up and dropped leaflets at every house on every street. Everyone will be looking out for him. We just have to cross our fingers and wait.’
Jenni nodded. ‘I know. Thank you. It’s just now we’ve done everything we can, I feel like there’s nothing left I can do. And… just… what if…’
Tears filled her eyes and Ben squeezed her hands tight, praying he’d be able to keep his promise and bring Oscar home to her.