Sea Glass (WAYHAUGHT)

She Is

Wynonna gripped her sister's hand. "I told her she couldn't have an ice cream until she finished her juice. I didn't want her to be thirsty. She'll think I'm mad at her. I'm not, not at her."

"You did nothing wrong," Waverly replied.

Nicole took Casey to one side, keeping her voice low. "Has anyone checked near the lake?"

The colour drained from Casey's face. "I'm sure they...I'll get a message out."

Nicole waited for Casey to leave before returning to the sisters. "What does she like doing when she's here?"

"The birds," Waverly replied. "She loves looking at the birds."

"You said something about the poultry orchard. Would she know where that is?"

"She's five," Wynonna sobbed. "I let go of her hand for a second."

"It's okay," Waverly soothed. "She's here somewhere. Probably hiding."

"She wouldn't do that. She knows I'll be cross." Wynonna's chest heaved at the suggestion of Alice hiding from her. "She wanted John. I was talking to him, and then I looked...and she wasn't..."

Nicole's eyes darted back and forth between the sisters. "Where would John take her? If he was here with Alice. Is there anywhere special?"

"The jungle knowing him," Wynonna replied. "She likes the rope bridge."

Nicole gave Waverly a side glance. "Wyn, can you give us a moment?"

Standing outside the office Nicole looked as pale as Casey. "She's too young to go that far. But, if she has..."

"No, you're right, she wouldn't. Not without Wyn. What if she found it though? No, she's too small to cross it on her own."

"Somebody would have seen her," Nicole reassured. "She's got to be close. We're just not thinking like a five-year old."

"She loves colouring in."

Nicole stared at her. "Anything else."

"She loves the bees."

"Birds, bees and colouring in. I have no idea how those three might be connected, but it's a start."

"You're right, she's got to be near. We're just not thinking like her." Waverly grabbed Nicole's hand.

"Where are we going?"

"Not sure," Waverly replied, dragging Nicole after her. "I just need to check something."

The Kitchen café was a short distance from the garden's main office. Her eyes scanned the outdoor seating area for the little girl, waving at a waitress to catch her attention. Pulling out her phone she showed the teenager a photo of Alice. "Have you seen her?"

The teenager took the phone, studying the photo. "I've only just started my shift. She might have been in earlier. I'll ask."

"Who else was on about an hour ago?"

The teenager looked over at a guy. "Mike was, I think. What's up?"

"She's gone missing."

"Mike," the teenager called out. "Over here."

Mike sauntered over. "We're really busy at the moment. Half hour wait for a table outside."

"Have you seen this girl?" Waverly said, thrusting the phone at him. "She might have been here with her mum."

"Yeah, she wanted more crayons. Cute kid."

Nicole spotted something out of the corner of her eye. She weaved her way around the tables, heading for the sign. Waverly caught up with her as Nicole began calling out Alice's name.