Hughie’s not on the bench.
“Oh fuck.” I turn to Jackson.
“What?”
“He’s gone. Hughie’s gone.”
33
“Hughie!” I’m running up and down the stalls. “HUGHIE!?!”
People look concerned as I zigzag through the crowd, finishing my third loop of the market.
He’s nowhere.
34
I’m standing at the bench catching my breath when Jackson runs over, who’s searching just working off clothing description, shaking his head. “I don’t see any kid matching what you said.”
I need to keep a level head. Where could he be, where could he have gone?
Who might have taken him.
A policeman walks over. “Someone said you might need some help.”
“My boyfriend’s nephew was with me. I think he might have walked off, or…”
The panic rises in me.
“Alright, no need to panic. It’s probably fine. He likely saw something and wandered off. Can you give me a description. Height, hair and eye color, age, what he was wearing?” I give him as detailed information as I can, which he then radios over for assistance.
A missing child at the Christmas market outside Dublin Castle. Ten years-old, brown hair with a hint of red. Green eyes. Wearing a Spider-Man sweater and jeans. Super Mario backpack.
“You the uncle?” The policeman addresses Jackson.
Niall.
“I haven’t called him yet.” I take my phone out, dial Niall.
“Hey, what’s going on? What are my two favorite lads up to?”
“Niall,” I pause, looking at the policeman and seeing the two additional reinforcements now backing him up. “It’s Hughie. He’s missing.”
Niall is at the castle in five minutes, frantically talking to the police. They assure him that they have multiple units looking for him, that he probably just wandered off.
When Niall finally turns to me, there is a mix of fear and fury in his eyes. “What happened.”
I’m crying at this point, trying to contain myself. “I was getting him another hot chocolate. I had him sit on the bench over there while I waited in line. It was a long line so I had him sit—”
“He’s ten, Daniel. What the fuck were you thinking.” It’s not lost on me that this is the first time he’s called me Daniel. It’s like a parent using their full name when punishing a child, and I know I deserve it.
“I’m sorry Niall. I’m so sorry.”
“We’ll split up and check places. I’ll take Temple Bar and check the apartment. You check the college and Dame Street.”
***
The classroom is empty. My office is empty. None of the spots on the campus we sit at have anything other than students.
