by Sara Pascoe
‘You have a mobile?’ Raya said. She was hurt.
Pavel looked at Raya. ‘Hey, I’m sorry.’ He pulled a paper napkin from a dispenser and a pen from next to the till. ‘Just don’t always trust myself NOT to let people down…’ He trailed off as he scribbled. Raya looked at Emma for an explanation, but she shook her head as if to say, ‘Don’t ask.’ The remaining customers paid at the till and left. Raya looked at Ian who nodded. Raya drew the blinds and locked the door. Just as she settled onto the stool next to Pavel, there were three firm knocks on the door.
‘They must have left something,’ Ian said. But when he opened the door, there stood a police officer, and that social worker witch, Bryony Braxton.
‘Hello, officer, miss,’ Ian said, and waved them in. ‘What can we do for you?’
Raya looked away then slid into the back.
‘Emma, let me do that,’ Raya whispered, as she grabbed the soapy baking tray from her.
‘Huh? You’re acting funny. What’s going on?’
‘Nothing.’ Raya scrubbed hard.
Emma wiped her hands and walked out to the front. Ian and Pavel were looking at something on the counter – photos. Bryony looked over their shoulders.
‘Hey, Emma, take a look at these – two runaways, a boy called… what did you say their names were?’ Ian said.
Bryony spoke. ‘The boy’s called Jake Hunter. He just turned twelve, yesterday in fact. The girl, Rachel Hollingsworth, she’s fifteen in a few months – she calls herself Raya.’
‘Wait a minute,’ Ian said, picking up the picture of the girl.
‘Why’d you come here, officer?’ Emma asked.
‘We looked at the boy’s emails and texts. He’d been communicating with this girl, Rachel, who ran away a couple of weeks ago. She talks about working at a cafe here on Commercial Road. You’re the third one we’ve tried.’
‘Beatrice, come out here a minute, please?’ Ian called out.
‘“Beatrice”?’ Bryony said.
Metal pans clattered and a door slammed in the back of the building. Ian flashed a look at Emma and tore out the front, the officer at his side.
Bryony slung her heavy shoulder bag down, things tumbled out. ‘She had black spiky hair, piercings – the Goth thing, or is it Emo? Can’t keep track. Anyway, does that sound like her?’
Emma and Pavel nodded.
‘Hmm, I never thought Beatrice fit,’ Pavel said.
The three were quiet.
Emma peered out the door. ‘They got her.’
The officer and Ian marched a panting Raya back inside. Ian plonked her down in a booth. ‘OK, young lady, you’ve got some explaining to do.’ He nodded towards the officer and Bryony.
Bryony scratched around in her bag finally retrieving a notebook and pen. She chewed on the end of it.
The officer took a photo from the counter and held it up in front of Raya.
‘Rachel, do you know this boy?’
Raya turned away.
‘And you – you told us her ID was real,’ Ian said to Pavel.
Pavel looked hollowed out. ‘You know I get things wrong…’
‘Not now, you two,’ Emma said.
The officer tried again. ‘Like I was saying, do you recognize this boy?’
Raya flushed. ‘Yes, sir. That’s Jake. We were both living at Angie’s.’
‘When was the last time you saw him?’ the officer said.
Raya shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Whenever I left Angie’s, I guess.’
‘You guess?’ the officer said.
‘Rachel, are you hiding this boy here – upstairs or something?’ Ian said.
‘No! Of course not,’ she said, and looked at her feet.
Bryony stepped next to Raya. ‘Then why are you acting so guilty?’
Raya stared beyond them for a moment before she could speak. ‘I think maybe he got the idea to run away to London from me.’
There was a moment of heavy quiet.
‘Why do you say that?’ Bryony said softly.
‘He was talking about going to some museum here…’
The officer flipped pages in a small notebook. ‘We’d appreciate anything you might know. We haven’t got the most recent texts yet – waiting on those.’
‘It was some engineering museum. Some famous guy. Something about tunnels under the Thames.’
‘Must be the Brunel Museum,’ Pavel said.
‘That fits – he loves science, engineering,’ Bryony said.
‘I’ll need your phone, miss,’ the officer said and held out his hand. She gave it to him.
The police officer walked out of the cafe, punching buttons on his phone.
The sounds of passing traffic and a siren slid in when the officer went out. ‘OK,’ Bryony said, ‘from what we can figure out, it looks like Jake had planned to come back to Angie’s. There was some finished homework due later this week, sitting on his desk. His SIM card was in his drawer, but we couldn’t find his phone. Seems he got a new one for his little jaunt–’
‘Probably learned that off me, too’ Raya said. She looked glum.
‘It’s not exactly rocket science,’ Bryony said, then looked surprised at her own sharp tone. ‘Sorry, I’m a bit frazzled.’
‘No worries,’ Raya said. I didn’t tell him to come, did I? she thought.
Ian gave her a buddy squeeze around the shoulders.
Bryony continued. ‘The CCTV footage they have so far shows Jake getting on the train at South Nutfield, with my, I mean his cat. The two of them got off at Victoria Station, but then the trail falls off.’
The bell on the door jingled and the officer walked back in. ‘Someone’s going over to the Brunel Museum now, see if he’s anywhere around there – it’s closed now, of course.’
‘We’ve called all the hospitals, but no kids of his description. So that’s where we are with it,’ Bryony said.
‘Not very far,’ the officer said.
Bryony heaved a sigh, dug a folder out of her bag. ‘Now, Raya, we’ll have to place you in emergency care for tonight, then get you back to South Nutfield tomorrow.’
She felt like her stomach dropped three floors without her. Her heart raced and she felt hot. ‘Why can’t Emma and Ian be my foster carers?’
There was a moment of quiet except for the city sounds outside.
‘How about I get everyone a cuppa?’ Emma said overly cheerfully. They all gave their orders, Ian helped Emma with the drinks and snacks. They settled back into the large booth.
Emma nodded towards Ian. ‘You know, it would be fine by us, if Beatrice, I mean Rachel, stayed. We’ve become a family of sorts,’ Ian said. ‘We’ll fill out any paperwork, and Pavel here – you know he used to be a detective with the Metropolitan Po–’
‘Oh, no need to bring all that up,’ Pavel protested.
‘You ex-Met?’ the young officer said.
‘A long time ago.’
The officer extended a hand. ‘You know what they say, “once a police, always a police”.’ Pavel offered his hand as though it was dead.
‘Pavel was with the Integrative Intelligence Unit in Whitechapel,’ Emma said.
‘Oh, yeah? That’s a spooky lot,’ the officer said.
‘Oh, it was no big deal,’ Pavel said.
‘Well, that’s all very interesting, but harbouring a minor is not exactly high on the list of criteria for foster carers,’ Bryony said.
Pavel shook his head. ‘That’s my fault – I thought her ID was real – that she really was a few months off seventeen. And I should be able to tell–’
The officer interjected, ‘The fake IDs are really good now…’ It sounded like he held back adding ‘old man’. ‘… so don’t be too hard on yourself.’
Pavel flinched.
The officer looked like he was sorry and continued to Pavel in particular, ‘And if you really thought she was sixteen, well, we all know we can’t legally force them back home then – they vote with their feet.’
/> Bryony excavated her phone from her bag. ‘Sure, we can start the process of either one of you applying as carer tomorrow, but in the meantime she’ll have to go elsewhere at least for tonight. I’ll make some calls.’ She stepped away scrolling through her phone.
Raya’s panic was replaced by a growing anger. She was angry at Bryony for finding her… and for NOT finding her sooner. Wasn’t she looking for me too? Well, I guess she loses lots of things; cats, kids…
Bryony glanced around as though she’d been stung by a rubber band.
‘Oh crap. Is she listening in on my thoughts? Aren’t I locking them down properly? Raya tried to think in great detail about various food items she served, anything not personal.
Cumin, garlic, and, oh right – coriander. Raya tried to remember recipes she’d picked up from Ian.
Bryony returned to the booth. She looked tired – older than Raya remembered. ‘You, young lady must have changed your clothes when you came to London. Not to mention your hair,’ Bryony said and nodded toward Raya’s new boring hairstyle.
‘What? Oh, right. Maybe,’ Raya said hearing how stupid and teen-agy she sounded before she could stop herself.
Bryony took in a long breath like she was about to go under water. ‘After you boarded the train in Redhill the CCTV footage went cold– nothing, zip. We never stopped looking. Believe me,’ Bryony said.
Tears suddenly threatened to give Raya away, a funny mixture of hurt and relief. Pressing her nails into her other palm, helped, too.
Bryony turned back to her paperwork. ‘Anyway, I’ve found a placement for you tonight at least. It’s not far from here. The foster carer will bring you back here in the morning. Then we’ll look into the possibility of your staying here for the summer, but you’ll have to stay in Ian or Emma’s home, providing we can arrange that. Now Raya, don’t set your heart on this; it’s all a big if. And you’ll most likely have to return to South Nutfield once school starts again in the autumn.’
Raya couldn’t help but fall into intense hope, as though that alone could make it all come true.
The next morning, Raya woke worried about Jake – a hollow sick feeling. She had only started texting him in the first place because she was a bit lonely and bored. She couldn’t face the cereal floating in milk. She thought she might throw up.
‘All these changes must be tough,’ the foster lady said, and cleared the table.
The sky was a perfect grey, like a big piece of cardboard stuck behind the buildings. Raya trudged along with the foster carer. They left her unremarkable flat where she lived with her perfectly ordinary family and passed forgettable buildings. People rushed to work, traffic was thick. Foster Lady chatted away.
‘We certainly hope you were comfortable with us. Tonight’s pizza night in our family, and usually we watch a film. You know – in case you come back.’
Raya shuddered. She did her best to nod and smile at the right places. She couldn’t remember wanting to be any place for a really long time, and now she wanted to stay with Ian, Emma, and Pavel. It looked like life was about to prove, once again, she shouldn’t let herself get attached.
She snugged her grey hoodie around her. The closer she got to the Cosmic, the better she felt. When she glimpsed Pavel through the window, she broke into a trot. Everyone turned as the door banged shut.
‘Sorry,’ Raya said. Breakfast smelled wonderful. Foster Lady followed her in and spoke with Ian and Emma. Raya bounded over to the booth where Pavel and Bryony sat, papers, mobiles, a laptop, and empty mugs in front of them. It took them a second to stop talking and look up at her.
‘Hiya,’ Raya said.
Pavel grinned and offered his fist for a friendly bump.
‘Do I get to stay? Is it all settled?’ Raya said. It felt like her heart and her stomach had switched places. She was afraid to ask about Jake, afraid of bad news or worse, none.
Bryony flashed a work smile. ‘Oh, Raya, it’s not going to happen that fast, I’m afraid. Most likely you’ll stay at the emergency placement for another night or two.’ She scrambled around in that shoulder bag of hers and came up with Raya’s phone – held it out like a peace offering. ‘Here, the police got what they needed,’ Bryony said and put her head back into the papers. Raya pocketed her phone.
‘Why don’t you go help out – like normal?’ Pavel said, nodding towards Ian and Emma.
‘Oh. OK.’ Raya started to walk off, then stopped. ‘Would you like more tea or coffee?’
The two looked up again. ‘Sure. That would be nice,’ Bryony offered with a sigh.
Raya tossed her overnight bag onto the booth next to Pavel and took the empty mugs behind the counter.
Foster Lady reached over, tapped her on the shoulder. ‘Bye, Raya. Looks like you’ll be coming to ours for another night or two.’ She smiled.
‘Oh, thanks. That’s lovely.’ Raya forced a smile in return.
Foster Lady left and Raya finished making the drinks. ‘You never know. A lot could happen between now and then. Right?’ Raya said to Ian.
‘I don’t know, don’t get your hopes up, little sister,’ he said while cooking. The nickname warmed and tugged at her.
Emma served a customer then turned to Raya. ‘Hey, I made some of your favourites, almond-raspberry croissants. Help yourself, and get some for Bryony and Pavel, if you like.’
Raya returned to the booth with three steaming mugs and warm croissants. She scooted in next to Pavel. He’d shaved and was wearing an old but clean corduroy sports jacket.
‘Hey, you clean up all right. So, what are we doing?’ Raya said, taking a croissant for herself.
Bryony exhaled and shut a folder. ‘I’m sorry, Raya. We’re in the middle of an awful lot right now.’
‘Can’t I help?’ Raya said, pushing the croissant away. Bryony looked at her as though she was reading her thoughts again.
‘Would you stop that? Please,’ Raya said.
‘What?’ Bryony said.
‘I’m not able to lock-down my thoughts yet – you know, for privacy. And it’s creeping me out, you reading my mind all the time,’ Raya said.
‘Sorry, Raya,’ Bryony said. ‘It’s not on purpose. It can be pretty automatic, once you get the hang of it – like reading someone’s facial expression.’
‘Right.’ Raya hunkered down in the booth.
‘But well done!’ Bryony said overly cheerfully. ‘Pavel’s told me how quickly you’re coming along with your integrator skills.’
Raya was stunned – So Bryony knew I was a witch too? Why didn’t she say something? If I knew I hadn’t been losing my mind, but becoming a witch, for real, maybe I wouldn’t have run away to begin with. Then maybe none of this would have happened to Jake. Doesn’t she do anything right?
Pavel looked quickly back and forth between the two of them, and then at his watch. ‘We’ve got to concentrate on finding Jake, you two.’
An incoming email chimed on Bryony’s laptop. She bore into the screen like her eyes were guns. ‘Nothing.’ They all deflated.
Pavel stood up. ‘How about this? Raya, why don’t you come upstairs and help me set up some equipment? Then, Bryony, you join us when you’re done with your paperwork.’
‘Good idea,’ Bryony said. She closed her laptop, and handed it to Pavel.
‘What equipment?’ Raya said.
* * *
Upstairs in the room where Raya usually slept, Pavel unfolded a table from behind the headboard. He unlocked a cupboard in the wall above the wardrobe that Raya hadn’t noticed. At Pavel’s request, Raya fetched some chairs. When she returned, he was hooking up Bryony’s laptop to a dusty metal box with dials. He stood on a chair and dug into the back of the cupboard. He handed her another metal box and what looked like a swimming cap with wires coming off it.
‘What’s all this?’
‘Ah, welcome to the world of brain waves.’
Pavel connected wires, turned dials, and wiped dust off as he explained things. ‘At Integrative Inte
lligence at the Met they had ways to enhance and verify what people call “psychic information”.’ He checked connections, studied the screen, adjusted dials.
‘You know, like the information you’ve been picking up?’
Raya nodded.
He seemed a different person than the kind but lost, down-and-out. There were footsteps on the stairs.
‘Are we ready?’ Bryony asked, standing in the doorway.
‘Almost,’ Pavel said as he continued to tune dials and watch the screen.
‘So what happens now?’ Raya said.
‘Bryony’s been receiving messages, we think from Oscar, that cat that used to live with her. But they’ve been fuzzy. This should help,’ Pavel said.
‘I don’t get it. I mean why don’t you just use your powers to find Jake?’ Raya said. She plonked down on one of the chairs, fiddled with the cord on her hoodie.
‘It doesn’t work like that,’ Bryony said, then turned away to work the cap with wires onto her head.
‘Why not?’
‘It’s another set of skills, but it doesn’t mean they’re all-powerful, or that you can always do what you want with them,’ Pavel said.
Bryony sat staring at the screen, the wired cap was snug on her head. ‘Getting anything?’ Pavel asked Bryony.
‘Not yet.’ She took long, slow breaths and closed her eyes.
‘Bryony was the last good witch Oscar worked with, so it makes sense he’d try to transmit to her when he needed help,’ Pavel said.
‘Last good witch?’ Raya asked.
‘Shh, later. If you two don’t mind,’ Bryony said.
After a few moments the static on the screen started to take form as Bryony explained what she saw. ‘This looks like the same place I started picking up yesterday. Someone with a white coat just came in,’ Bryony said. The midsection of a person in a white work smock appeared on the screen. They got closer, a wire door swung open, and an arm came in, placed a bowl in the cage.
‘It looks like he’s in some sort of animal facility, a pet store, or a lab,’ Pavel said.
‘Or a butchers,’ Raya said and smirked.
‘Quiet,’ Bryony said. Then after a moment of her staring at the screen she said, ‘Oscar, is that you? What? Yes. OK. Calm down. I’m sorry, but I don’t think you can blame me for… Look, let’s talk about that later. Just tell me where Jake is. Slower.… Are you sure?’ Bryony blanched. ‘Oh my God!’