Free Blazing Obsession by Dai Henley Page B

it.
    â€œYou want me to do what? Are you crazy? Have you any idea how ludicrous this whole idea is?”
    Alisha, who’d been quietly thoughtful throughout said, “I’m sorry to say it, Lynne, but I think the plan’s OK. Definitely worth a try.”
    Whatever Alisha or I said, Lynne continued being sceptical, negative and unconvinced. After an hour, I lost my patience.
    Throwing down my pen on the coffee table, I said, “OK. So how else do you want to proceed? Do nothing? Let events take their course? Everything we’ve heard so far points to a long, drawn-out court case involving thousands of pounds in legal costs. And that can only start
after
Georgie’s been found. I think our plan has a better chance of success… don’t you?”
    Lynne gazed into the far distance, ignoring us both.
    We spent another two hours going over and over the same ground, sometimes shouting, sometimes with prolonged silences, before she finally screeched, “OK! OK! My head’s spinning. God, I’ve never known
anyone
as persistent as you!”
    She let out a long sigh, looked at both of us and said, “I suppose I’ve got nothing to lose. All right. Arrange the flights. I’m not happy with any of this, James. And what will the police say when they find out I’ve left the country?”
    â€œI don’t see how they can stop you. You’re trying to find your son. I think as long as you’re in contact if they want more information it’s not a problem. I’ll tell them if you like.”
    Alisha said, “Well, I’m up for it. Lynne, you can’t let Nick get away with this. When’s it going to end with him?”
    Lynne stroked her developing bump. “I’d better talk to the doctor about flying. I think I’m OK, but I need to check.”
    Reaching for her hand, I gazed into her eyes and said, “I’m
sure
this is the correct thing to do. I know you’re going through hell now and what you’ve got to do won’t be easy. But, if the plan works, Georgie will be home with us before you know it.”

CHAPTER FIVE

    March – April 1996

    Lynne’s doctor gave her the go-ahead to fly. He said she could travel between three and seven months into the pregnancy. At just over five months, this surely allowed plenty of time to get Georgie home.
    Once I knew, I got Pat to sort out our first-class tickets for the flight to Orlando early the next day.
    We landed mid-afternoon, Eastern Standard Time, and stayed in the Hyatt Regency Hotel within the airport terminal for the first couple of nights. Georgie had now been missing for four days. The plan we discussed endlessly on the flight included a visit to Disneyworld, showing pictures of Georgie to the front-line staff at the entrance to the most popular attractions.
    Lynne thought the idea a complete waste of time.
    â€œWhat’s the point of that? Thousands of people visit there every day. No one’s going to recognise him.”
    Although secretly, I agreed with her, I said, “I know. But at least we’re doing
something,
aren’t we? Better than moping around at home. It’s only until RP can get us more info from Nick’s credit card.”
    We spent the evening rehearsing what Lynne would say to Nick once we found him. “I don’t know if I can do this,” she said on more than one occasion. Alisha and I spent hours convincing her she could. We even role-played the meeting. I played Nick, with Alisha advising Lynne what to say. Although surreal, it kept us focussed on the plan.
    Having Alisha in the team proved to be a good idea.
    She said, “Think what it means, Lynne. If you pull this off. Not only will you have Georgie back, you’ll get that scum-bag of an ex-husband of yours put away for a while.”
    We didn’t have to go to Disneyworld. RP called early the next morning to say Nick had used his credit card at Orlando Airport to