Forget Me Never

with the trains. None of them was Neve. I turned away feeling like I was about to pass out.
    ‘Someone might have taken her.’ Sophie’s voice seemed to come from a long way away. ‘We’ve got to consider that, Reece . . .’
    I couldn’t speak. Images of Neve walking off with people, out into the car park and away to their houses, never to be seen again, were shooting through my head. She’d been wearing that new dress. Didn’t the sickos always go for the cute ones? It would have been so easy, just taking her hand when she stepped off that stage . . .
    ‘We’ve got to report this,’ Sophie said. ‘The sooner they get a message out there, the sooner people will be on the alert.’
    My arms and legs felt wooden, like they could barely move. I managed to get going. We went up the escalators and along to the information desk, stationed in the middle of the shopping centre. The woman in charge introduced herself as Ann. She sat us down behind the desk and got me to give a description of Neve and explain exactly what had happened. Sophie chipped in with details I missed. It felt like my brain was dissolving into goo, incapable of processing anything. All I could think about was how much I loved my little sister and wanted her safe.
    ‘We’re going to have to call your mum,’ said Ann. ‘Can you give me her number?’
    ‘D’you have to?’ I asked. ‘She’ll go insane!’
    Ann nodded, giving me a sympathetic look. Feeling like I was plunging from a great height, I gave her Mum’s number.
    Ten minutes crawled by. Ann had called Mum and had made an announcement over the PA system, describing Neve and asking people to keep an eye out. She’d also sent a message round to alert the security guards.
    I felt useless and pathetic. Sitting here hoping each second that the phone would ring, just waiting . . . If Neve was anywhere in the shopping centre, someone would have spotted her by now. Ann and her colleagues were starting to look worried . . .
    And then the obvious struck. I gave a start and looked at Sophie. She was wearing a stony expression which told me she’d already got there.
    ‘Cherie . . .’ I whispered.
    ‘She said your mum and sister would get hurt. She meant it.’
    ‘All I did was turn up on Friday! I just wanted to show them they couldn’t boss me about!’
    Sophie glanced down. She’d been picking the varnish off her nails. Black flakes were scattered over her denim shorts. Softly she said, ‘And they wanted to show you that they could.’
    Ann came up. ‘I know we’re waiting for your mum, but I’ve passed the information on to the police. There’s an officer on the way over. Missing children usually turn up very quickly, but I think it’s for the best.’
    Ann didn’t voice what everyone was already thinking. Neve had been taken. Should I tell the police about Cherie and Aiden? They had to be involved. It was too much of a coincidence. Surely . . . surely they wouldn’t hurt Neve. She was a little kid! She’d done nothing, knew nothing and shouldn’t even be a part of this. But if Danielle had been murdered – Danielle, who was an adult and could defend herself – then Neve didn’t stand a chance . . .
    I knew I’d have to mention Cherie soon. Neve’s safety was on the line. But I really, really didn’t want to. It would antagonize Cherie even more. If she knew I’d blabbed, then she might really hurt Neve. Not only that, but exactly what Sophie and I had been up to all summer would come tumbling out. I could see how far-fetched it would sound, and I just knew that Mum would blame Soph. I could hear it now: ‘If you hadn’t got tangled up with that girl and her issues your sister would never be in danger!’
    There was also the much worse fact that I couldn’t ignore – that this was my fault for provoking Cherie, and soon everyone would know it.
    In a few hours the car park would be starting to clear out. Happy people laden with bags of shopping would leave, with no idea what we were going through up here. Then we’d really have to face up to the facts.
    Someone cleared their throat. I looked up. It was a smiling security guard – and he had Neve with him. Unharmed.
    Relief slammed into me when I saw Neve. I felt like I’d aged a hundred years while she’d been missing, though apparently it had only been thirty-five minutes. A lady had spotted Neve shortly after Ann had made the announcement and alerted the guard. It seemed she’d simply wandered