“Okay.” Five minutes later, they pulled up in front of the day care. The police tape from the previous evening was gone. Earlier that day, he and Rena had gotten a text that they were moving the command center for the search team to the city park that was three blocks away. That would allow this neighborhood to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

They found the woman in her office. “How’s it going?” Rena asked.

“Any news?” Alice asked immediately.

Rena shook her head. “Nobody is giving up.”

“I heard there were still many, many people searching,” Alice said.

“Yeah.” Rena had heard hundreds. There were feet on the street, both human and canine, and there were drones in the sky. A hotline had been established and publicized. So far, there had been six calls about possible sightings. Each had been meticulously followed up on by other officers. Each had been disappointing. “We thought you might be here.”

“Yeah. Just felt right. Plus I’m fielding lots of calls from parents. I did send everyone a message that we would reopen tomorrow. I think that was good news. I... I guess I hope it was good news. Parents are scared.”

Rena wasn’t sure what to say. Of course the focus had to be on Emma and the whole Whitman family but there was no doubt that this put Alice and the Lakeside Learning Center in a bad spot. Bad enough that they might not recover if one considered Brenda Owen’s experience. Maybe parents were right now trying to find other childcare arrangements and enrollment would rapidly decline over the next couple weeks until the center ultimately closed.

It was a minute concern in comparison to a missing child but still, she understood Alice’s concern. But Alice wasn’t without blame. They’d be in a significantly better position if she’d had cameras around the place.

“We spoke to Brenda Owen today,” Rena said.

Alice’s head jerked. “You were in Dover?”

“Yes.”

“It was good of her to call,” Alice said.

“Did you know about Corrine Antler before Brenda called?” A.L. asked.

“Why would I have?” Alice said.

“Not familiar with Dover?” Rena asked.

Alice shook her head. “No,” she said. Her phone rang. She glanced at the number. “I’m sorry but I really should take this.”

“No problem,” A.L. said. “We were on our way somewhere else and just thought we’d stop by.”

Tess Lyons wandered around the mall food court, unable to make up her mind. Pizza? Thai? Steak sandwich? Tacos?

Finally, after two trips around the half circle of options, shredded chicken tacos and chips and guacamole were crowned the winners. She carried her tray in her right hand. With each step, her shopping bag that hung off the same arm, awkwardly bumped into her leg.

It really had been easier with two arms and two hands.