The Great Ice-Cream Heist by Elen Caldecott Page B

wanted to adopt him.
    No.
    Eva knew there was no way he’d be hoping that. He loved his family, whatever anyone else thought of them. He’d be wanting to come home.
    â€˜He’ll be hating it. It’s his worst nightmare. He told me that he’d never let Melanie take him away from his family. But he couldn’t stop her. This is my fault,’ she said quietly.
    â€˜How is any of this your fault?’ Heidi asked.
    â€˜He should have been at the lodge today. If he’d been with us, then Melanie wouldn’t have come to take him away. But he stayed home.’
    â€˜I’m still waiting for the part where that’s your fault.’
    Eva felt her face redden. Her cheeks were hot with shame. ‘I didn’t give him a chance to explain. Last night, he asked me to meet him. But I was angry, so I didn’t go. I knew that the police were going to talk to Michael. I’m just like everyone else, judging Jamie by what his family does.’
    â€˜Do you think he wanted to explain?’ Heidi asked.
    Eva nodded. ‘He waited for me for ages. He thought I was his friend, but I let him down. If I had met him last night, he might have come to the lodge with us today. He might have helped with the clean-up. He might have been there making it right – instead he was in his house. The police must have called Melanie as soon as they knew he was home. She wouldn’t have taken him away if he’d been with us. Oh, Heidi, he thinks that no one cares about him.’
    â€˜You care,’ Heidi said. ‘Sounds like you care a lot.’
    â€˜He doesn’t know that. And now he’s gone.’
    Heidi was silent for a moment. She kicked at the scab of dry soil beneath the swing. ‘Maybe it’s for the best though. Whoever’s fault it is. Maybe Jamie will be better off wherever he is now.’
    Eva shook her head. ‘No way. He loves his family. Even if they are a bit of a nightmare. He’s going to hate wherever it is that Melanie took him.’ Her nails dug into her palms. She realised that she was feeling angry, as well as guilty.
    â€˜Heidi,’ she said, ‘I need to find him. I need to see that he’s OK. I need to say sorry. Maybe even get him back! What do you think?’
    Heidi’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Get him back? He isn’t a computer game you’ve lent to someone. His social worker has taken him into care. You can’t just ask nicely and get him back.’
    Eva looked at the rickety fence that divided her garden from Jamie’s. Sunlight dappled it with warmth. Even the shed looked more golden than brown. It was all right for her. She was here, with Gran and Heidi, and Dad was on his way home. It was all normal. But everything had changed for Jamie, and it was all because of her.
    â€˜I have to go and find out where he is,’ she said.
    â€˜Go where?’
    â€˜Next door. Mr McIntyre might be there. Or Drew. I can ask them where Jamie’s gone.’
    Heidi stood up. She looked horrified, as though a whole cyberman army had materialised next to the swing. ‘You want to ask Mr McIntyre if he knows where Jamie is on the day that his wife and son were arrested and his other son has been whisked away by the council?’
    Eva nodded slowly. She thought that was what she wanted to do.
    â€˜Wow. Well, all I can say is what song do you want played at your funeral?’

Chapter 18
    Eva glanced from Heidi back to the fence and Jamie’s house. She imagined walking up to the front door, ringing the bell and asking a distraught Mr McIntyre if he knew where Jamie was. It would be like finding a hornets’ nest and telling the hornets that their queen was ugly. She wouldn’t get out of there in one piece.
    â€˜You’re right,’ she said. ‘I can’t ask Mr McIntyre, not today at least. But the longer we leave it the colder the trail will get.’
    â€˜Phew. A wise choice.’