Free Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie Page A

wig. And she wore heavy blue eye make-up and loads of face powder.
    â€˜I just spotted you guys out here. You look cold.’ The woman glanced up into the cloudy sky. ‘Weather forecast reckons it’ll snow later,’ she said.
    The woman reached into her jacket and pulled out a leather wallet. She flipped it open and flashed it front of us. I caught a glimpse of a star-shaped badge and the words
Police Dept
. ‘I’m Suzanna Sanders,’ the woman smiled. ‘On vacation as from my last shift. You guys sure I can’t drop you anywhere?’
    I chewed my lip. ‘We’re going to Burlington, then Boston. The airports.’ I said.
    Suzanna Sanders’s eyes widened. ‘No way. I’m going to Boston, too. Flight from Logan.’ She looked down at her uniform. ‘I’m on a tight schedule as you can see. I’m gonna have to change at the airport. So make up your minds.’
    â€˜Can you wait a minute?’ I said. ‘I just want to talk to my friend.’
    I pulled Jam away from the car. ‘I think we should go with her.’
    â€˜What, get in a total stranger’s car?’
    â€˜She’s a police officer,’ I said. ‘She’s not going to hurt us.’
    â€˜Suppose your mum’s called the police?’ Jam said. ‘They might be looking for us.’
    â€˜So? We’re going back to Mum anyway. This way we get to Boston quicker than we would if we had to go back to Burlington first.’ I glanced at Suzanna Sanders. ‘If she asks, we can say we got lost or something. And we’re trying to get back to Mum in Boston. I’ll text Mum now, tell her that’s where we’re going.’
    â€˜I’m not sure,’ Jam said. ‘I’ve got a bad feeling.’
    I squeezed his arm. ‘Come on, what can happen? She’s a cop. And there are two of us.’
    Jam nodded. ‘OK.’
    I turned back to the policewoman and told her our names. ‘Thanks. If it’s really all right, we will come with you. I just have to text my mum.’
    â€˜Great,’ Suzanna smiled. ‘But would you mind texting in the car? I’m freezing my ass off out here.’
    I followed her over to her car. I hesitated, not wanting to sit alone in the front with her, but also not wanting to force Jam to either.
    â€˜It’s OK, you guys take the back seat.’ Suzanna opened the door. ‘But no smooching.’
    I blushed as I got inside. Suzanna put our backpacks in the boot as we slid along the leatherette seat. The car inside was as smart and polished as it was outside. I rubbed my frozen hands together, then pulled my phone out and switched it on. Yet more missed calls and messages. I ignored them and punched in Mum’s number. Nothing. Ichecked the battery – still half-full. Then I noticed I had no signal.
    Jam checked his as the car drew off. Same thing.
    â€˜Often happens round here,’ Suzanna said cheerfully. Give it five minutes then try again.’
    Jam settled wearily against the opposite window. He pulled his PSP out of his jacket pocket and switched it on. But he didn’t play it. He turned it over and rubbed his thumb over the neat gouges on the back – the six stripes I’d noticed in the motel.
    â€˜What are they for?’ I said.
    â€˜Nothing.’ Jam shrugged. He gazed out the window as we roared past a row of flat-roofed shops.
    I tried my phone several more times, but still couldn’t get a signal. I left it switched on.
    â€˜You guys want some juice?’ Suzanna reached onto the passenger seat and passed a couple of orange-juice cartons back to us. We gulped them down thirstily.
    To my relief, Suzanna didn’t ask us any questions about where we came from or why we were in Leavington. I leaned my head against the damp chill of the car window. After a few minutes I began to feel sleepy. I looked over at Jam. His eyes were shut, his head lolling