To Infinity and Beyond

New Friend

Mark's POV

"Relax, Mark. We are getting there, I am sure Alice would be around too." Jake tried to reassure me as I dialled Alice's voicemail, perhaps for the hundredth time in the last hour. Jake offered to personally drive me to the NYPD office, I was having a hard time keeping my sanity intact after hearing from the detective.

"Why is she not reachable? Why is Mia with the cops? Last I know from Mia's teacher that Alice picked her up from school at 3. Nobody knows what happened after that." I raked my hand through my hair and let out a deep sigh. Frustration was boiling my insides. I was proving to be a failure as a father who had no clue about his daughter's whereabouts. I was worried sick for both of them.

"We are almost there. All will be well, trust me." Jake whispered, but deep down, he was scared too.

The moment we parked outside, my feet hurriedly carried me to the front office. I sprinted with all my might, and my eyes kept scanning the place to see the face of my innocent daughter.

"Excuse me. I am Mark Hanly, Detective Jones called me. I am Mia's father." I stopped an officer who was passing by and just breathed out the words in one go.

"Sure. Detective Jones' office is that way." He pointed towards the right corner, and I rushed in the direction. I saw a female in her forties seated in a big cabin-like office. I gently knocked at the door to catch her attention. Jake was standing right behind me by now, looking equally anxious.

"Detective Jones. I am Mark Hanly, Mia's father."

"Oh, yes. Please come in. And you will be?" She directed her question to Jake.

"I am Jacob Richmond, Mia's uncle. Where is she? Is everything alright?" She gestured us to have a seat and gave us a slight nod.

"Yes. By God's grace, everything is fine. Mia is in the Recovery room, and one of our doctors is attending to her."

"Recovery room? Doctor? What happened? Is she hurt?" I jumped up from my seat.

"She is fine, Mr Hanly. She got lost in the City Island Carnival today. She was curled up at a closed stall even after the crowd dispersed and the place got deserted. All alone by herself."
She gave me a distasteful look and continued, "thankfully, our patrolling officer found her, but she was petrified and trembling with a high fever. She took time in calming down, and almost after an hour, gave us her name and your contact number."

"Oh, my God! Where is she? I want to see her immediately." I choked on my words, having a volcano of mixed emotions churn my guts. I couldn't believe Mia went through all this. My baby girl was left unattended, stranded. Where did Alice go? Why did she leave her alone?

"She will be here soon. The doctor will get her in after the check-up is complete. How could you be so careless, Mr Hanly? What were you thinking leaving your daughter all by herself? Thank God we found her, and she is safe, but..."

"I am sorry, Detective. I am equally shocked that she was all alone, by herself. She was supposed to be with Alice, umm.. her aunt, my girlfriend." I stuttered, "are you sure there was nobody with her?"

"Yes. She was alone. Did you call your girlfriend and checked with her? Mia looked like she was stranded for hours."

"Yes, I tried. I am unable to reach her at the moment." Guilt weighed me down, and I couldn't meet her eyes. Seconds later, I felt Jakes pat on my shoulder. He was trying to calm me down.

"Well, in that case, next time you should think twice before leaving your daughter in someone's care." Detective Jones piercing gaze was stuck on my face. Before I could summon the courage to respond, I heard her voice.