Maggie looked into her eyes, searching. ‘When did you get this?’
‘Yesterday. Someone shoved it through my cat flap. I got a heavy breather phone call too. I reported it to work. They’re fully aware.’
Maggie suppressed a shudder. ‘What did they make of it?’
‘My sarge says it’s just a crackpot. They all come out of the woodwork when kids go missing. But I don’t know, Maggie, the things this person knew about me …’
‘And you went home on your own?’ Maggie exclaimed. ‘No wonder you were happy to hear from me.’
‘You’ve no idea!’ Sarah laughed, but her face was haunted by recent events.
‘You don’t think Angelica’s dead, do you?’
‘I hope not. But Elliott has picked the Midnight Man up from somewhere.’
‘Kids in Slayton play that game every year.’ Maggie rubbed her arms. Her words were hollow. Her son’s insights were more powerful than she was letting on. The back door rattled on its hinges as the wind gusted outside.
‘Yeah, that’s probably it.’ Sarah cast an eye at the clock on the wall as it ticked away the seconds. ‘Anyway, I should be off.’
‘You’re not going anywhere.’ Maggie rose from the table and picked up the empty wine bottle for recycling. ‘I’ve got a spare room. I’ll put some fresh sheets on the bed.’
‘I couldn’t …’ Sarah said, but her expression was one of relief.
‘I won’t hear otherwise.’ Truth be told, Maggie was grateful for another body in the house in case Elliott woke up. He was not the only one dreading going to bed. ‘Now sit. I’ll make us some coffees.’
Their peace was shattered when Elliott’s cries filled the air. Maggie raced down the corridor, joined by her friend. A familiar sense of fear twisted her gut.
‘Night terror?’ Sarah said, her eyes wide.
‘Sounds like it,’ Maggie whispered, as Sarah followed her into the room. ‘Be careful. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.’
Elliott kicked and thrashed in his bed, his sheet tangled around his legs as his screams filled the air. The room was graveyard cold.
Tentatively, Maggie approached, but it was Sarah that Elliott called to.
‘Help!’ he screamed, reaching out for her. Maggie could barely stand to see her little boy so upset.
‘It’s OK. Go to him,’ she said, as Sarah looked to her for approval.
Sarah’s reaction seemed instinctive as Elliott buried himself in her arms. ‘Make it stop,’ he cried, his chest juddering as he sobbed. ‘Please. Take it away.’
‘Hey, it’s OK,’ Sarah said. ‘I’ve got you. Take a breath. They won’t get past me.’
Maggie watched Sarah soothe her child as she sat on the bed, gently rocking him.
‘What was it?’ Sarah said, softly. ‘What did you see?’
‘The woods,’ Elliott sobbed. Giant hiccups claimed his breathing, and he muttered beneath his breath as Sarah soothed him back to sleep.
‘Shh. It’s gone now. I’ve got it … let it go.’
Fighting back tears, Maggie smoothed her son’s hair. Sarah looked at her apologetically, before resting him back on the pillow where he fell straight into a fitful sleep. Maggie checked beneath the covers. He hadn’t wet the bed. His father’s medal was beneath the pillow as usual. She tucked in his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles duvet and pushed his soft toy under his arm. He was just a child – far too young for such trauma. They stood together in silence, watching over him. His face was pale but peaceful now, no longer ravaged by fear.
Maggie glanced at Sarah’s arms. She had come out of it unscathed. ‘He’ll be alright now,’ Sarah said softly, as they crept from his room.
‘How did you … how did you do that?’ Maggie felt as if the air had been stolen from her lungs.
‘To be honest, I don’t know,’ Sarah said. ‘I didn’t mean to intrude.’
