The Holiday

Kevin and Mary Sloan waited for the police car to leave before alighting from their silver Mercedes. The police car had been parked in Kevin’s favourite parking spot in front of the house. He liked to look out through the front window and see his Mercedes in the street.

Mary waited for him to check that the electronic locks had engaged, and then she followed him across the small patch of lawn to the front door. Terry opened the door before they could knock or ring the doorbell.

‘Any news?’ said Kevin.

‘No. They’ve only just left to start looking for him.’

‘Where’s Helen?’ asked Mary.

‘In the living room,’ said Terry, stepping back to allow them to enter.

Mary pushed past Terry. Kevin stood on the veranda. ‘What did the police have to say?’

‘They think he got into a car in front of next door.’

‘How’d they work that out?’

‘They used a dog. It followed Toby’s trail across the lawn and stopped at the kerb just over there, about a car’s length in front of where your car’s parked.’ 

‘Any sign of forced entry?’

‘No. It appears he let himself out the front door. Took his backpack with him. Helen thought he’d packed a few things for the football. Looks like he had other plans.’

‘So, he’s run away from home.’ Kevin took one last look at the car and entered the house.