He left her like that and drove the car out onto the street. The primary school down the road was in session. There were little boys on the field, kicking a football. At the traffic lights, in the corner of his rear mirror, he saw Alba’s car seat strapped in the back seat, and imagined her waving a toy, laughing, singing Papa… Papa. He gritted his teeth and felt a muscle pinch in his cheek. He slammed his foot on the accelerator and whispered.

“I am going to find you. My baby girl. I am going to find you, no matter the cost, no matter what. That’s Papa’s promise.”

And as he drove into the city, the tears that he had willed to be pent-up for the past two days, surged out of his chest, scorched his eyes and spilled onto his cheeks, while his hands gripped the steering wheel like a vice.

* * *

Inspector Awang put down the phone and stood by his desk, deliberating what he was going to say. It was a hot day and the air-conditioning inside the office was humming loudly. Omar noticed that small droplets of water were dripping onto the floor.

Omar asked again, impatiently, “Sorry, could you explain that again?”

Inspector Awang cleared his throat and spoke, firmly and quietly and pointed to a map behind him. “Encik Malik, the shopping centre is forty-five minutes away from Port Klang.” Inspector Awang traced his finger on the map and then stopped, “Another forty-five minutes and you’re in international waters. I am sorry, sir, but your child could be anywhere by now.”

Omar stared at the Inspector in disbelief. Del sobbed loudly.

“And, there’s nothing you can do?”

Inspector Awang sat down and beckoned Omar to sit. Omar shook his head, raked his fingers through his hair. Del stood by a corner window, staring numbly into the street.

Inspector Awang continued. “We are doing our best, but as you can see there are all kinds of possible scenarios.”

“Scenarios? What do you mean?” Del choked.

Inspector Awang warned, “This could be a kidnapping, madam. We have to wait to see if the kidnappers ask for a ransom. But if you say you have not heard anything in the past forty-eight hours, then we have to assume that she has been taken.”

Omar was quiet now, his voice stilted with anger. “Taken?”

“This would mean, what…?” Del pleaded.

“I am sorry, madam, but it’s to early to speculate. Anything can happen.”

“What? What? Are you saying?” Del shrieked.

Omar walked towards Del and hugged her. “Calm down, darling,” he pleaded.

“I am sorry, madam, but we are doing everything we can. We shut down the shopping centre, we checked all exits and entrances, my officers checked every shop, asking people what they saw, we have interviewed more than fifty people…nobody saw anything…please understand, we are doing our best.”