‘Why’s the door open?’
I slammed on the brakes and leapt out, not caring that I’d abandoned the car. My heart pounded as I ran into the house calling Maddie’s name. Had there been a break-in? Everything in the kitchen appeared to be in order.
‘I’ll check the lounge,’ Mam said, rushing in after me.
I raced upstairs and flung open Maddie’s bedroom door. Her room was empty and, while it was messy, it didn’t look trashed. I checked mine and Mam’s but everything appeared to be as we’d left it.
‘It’s fine down here,’ Mam shouted.
‘Same up here,’ I called, looking down to the hall. ‘No Maddie, no dogs and… oh my God! Clemmie!’
I raced back down, almost losing my footing in my haste, and checked the utility room but it was empty.
‘Clemmie!’ I grabbed for some cat treats and shook the packet – a sound usually guaranteed to bring her running – but she didn’t appear.
Goose bumps broke out over my arms as I took my phone out of my jeans pocket and called Maddie.
‘Where are you?’ I asked as soon as she answered.
‘I’m so sorry… not my fault…’ It was obvious she was crying.
‘Where’s Clemmie?’
‘I went out to feed the guinea pigs and I thought I’d shut the porch door behind me but I mustn’t have and Nova nudgedit open and Clemmie ran out. I’m so sorry, Mum. I’ve been searching for two hours. I can’t find her.’
‘Are the dogs with you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Are you near the farmhouse?’
‘Yes.’
‘Come back with the dogs and I’ll go out.’
‘It wasn’t my fault. I know you won’t?—’
I disconnected the call, not interested in her protestations. She’d only been asked to do one thing the whole time we’d been here and that was to ensure Clemmie was kept inside for three weeks. That wasn’t me being overly protective – it was me following the advice from the experts. Far too many cats went missing after a house move because they were let outside before their new homes felt safe and before they’d been able to build up a scent profile and I’d been determined that wouldn’t happen to my precious Clemmie.
Mam joined me outside and I filled her in. Nova and Skye appeared and ran over to us, followed by Maddie.
‘Keep them inside,’ I said to Mam. ‘I’m going out to look.’
I marched towards Maddie.
‘Mum, I?—’
‘Which direction did she go?’
She pointed towards the farmyard.
‘I’m so?—’
‘Don’t! Not now!’
I could hardly bear to look at her. Calling Clemmiestupidandskankyearlier had been bad enough, but I couldn’t deal with this. I knew Maddie wouldn’t have released her deliberately but how hard was it to make sure doors were closed? Yet another example of her not properly listening, being in Maddie world, only thinking of herself. If I didn’t find Clemmie or I found her and she was badly injured… I shuddered at the thought.
Consumed by a combination of rage and fear, I sprinted towards the farmyard and paused, shaking the treats and calling Clemmie’s name. Where should I even start? She could be anywhere on the farm… if she was still here. I couldn’t bear to think of her roaming further. On a positive note, Twyford had been surrounded by countryside so Clemmie was used to roaming across farmland and being among animals and shouldn’t get spooked by the horses. All I could hope was that she’d taken rest somewhere and that the shaking of her treats would eventually draw her out of her hiding place.
