ALWAYS || RAFE CAMERON

23

the place was swarming with detectives and cops.

"hey, what's going on?" Rafe collared a policeman.

"sorry, sir, but you can't be here." the man said, guiding us back the way we came.

i heard a voice i recognised and looked about, searching for Ward.

he was talking to a policewoman—well, more arguing.

"hey, we know him!" i told the man.

"Sarah Cameron's dad?"

"yeah, i'm Rafe Cameron," Rafe stopped walking.

"oh, right. and you don't know what's going on?"

"no, we've been at home all day."

"maybe you should go and talk to your Dad, then."

we half walked half ran towards Ward, who was storming away.

"Dad!" Rafe called, causing him to spin around and walked towards us.

"Juno, Rafe, what are you doing here?" he frowned.

"we were taking a walk all over figure eight and saw all these lights, and came to check it out." i gestured around. "what's going on?"

"Sarah's out there with Routledge."

we looked out at the dark water, i assumed they managed to get The Phantom on the water.

"what are they gonna do?" Rafe asked.

"they're working out where the boat is, then they're gonna send some others out. but there's a storm coming in, so the clock's ticking."

"right. what should we do?" Rafe said.

"there's nothing to be done. go home and i'll call if anything happens. take my car." Ward handed me the keys.

Wheezie and Rose were in the kitchen when we got back to their place.

"where have you been?!" Rose rushed to us.

"we went for a walk and spotted the cops. Dad filled us in," Rafe said exasperatedly.

"any news?" Rose asked.

i shook my head. "Ward said he'd call if anything comes up."

Rose nodded and dashed into the hall to get the phone.

"let's go upstairs," Rafe took my hand, leading me to his room.

he flicked the light on and i sat down on his bed, staring at the smooth white ceiling.

"i'm sure they'll be fine," i said, to fill the silence and comfort myself. "John B knows his way around a boat, right? and Sarah..."

"Sarah can probably swim." Rafe laid back next to me. "we should let Top know what's going on. where does his dad live anyway?"

"no idea. i'll go down and call Mrs Thornton. you go take a shower or something." Rafe didn't move. "i'll come join you once i finish, ok?"

"fine," he rolled his eyes, but smiled a bit.

i legged it down the stairs, remembering that Rose had the phone in the kitchen.

i stopped and thought for a while.

i was sure there was a phone in the informal living room, so i made my way there.

the phone was on a little side table.

i closed the door gently and crept over to it.

i dialled the Thornton's number and prayed Topper would pick up.