‘Use your phone,’ she whispered, switching hers to torch.
He did the same and wondered if he was destined to be bossed around by strong women. Just the thought ripped through his gut. Where the hell was Kim?
‘In here,’ Leanne called out at the top of her voice.
He ran in to find Leanne’s harsh torchlight resting on two terrified little girls.
‘Jesus, Leanne,’ he said, knocking the phone to the side so the glare was gone but the light remained.
‘It’s okay, girls,’ he said, lowering himself to the ground. The younger girl, Chloe, pushed herself closer to Emma, the first girl that had been taken.
He turned to Leanne. ‘Carry on looking.’ His boss could be lying somewhere unconscious. Or worse.
‘We’re police officers. No one is going to hurt you now. You’re safe.’
They didn’t move, and he knew better than to rush them.
‘Is there anyone else here?’
Both slowly shook their heads.
He pointed to his mouth.
‘Can I try and take that tape off?’
There was a hesitation before a small nod from one followed by the other.
He could hear officers talking outside the door to dispatch, others to supervisors. Finding the girls alive was big news. There would be two families sleeping better tonight.
They were both shivering either through cold or fear.
‘Get me a knife, some blankets and water,’ he called to the voices outside the door.
He wanted to ask the girls a hundred questions. He was beyond relieved to have found them alive and safe, but that wasn’t the end of the story for him.
‘This might hurt a little bit,’ he said, holding the corner of the tape. ‘Just squeeze your eyes shut and I’ll peel it back slowly.’
Emma nodded and squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
He tugged gently but it was stuck firmer than he’d thought.
‘Okay, I’m going to have to do this quickly. Can you be brave for me?’
Her eyes widened but she nodded. Chloe started to cry.
‘Okay, close your eyes again, both of you.’
They did and he took the tape off as quickly as he could.
‘Good job,’ he said as tears filled her eyes. ‘You were so brave. Do you think you could help your friend be brave too?’
Emma nodded and swallowed back her tears. He could have hugged the life out of her.
‘Right, I’ll be as gentle as I can, okay?’ he said, turning to Chloe.
‘I-It’s okay. It’s b-better off,’ Emma said, trying bravely to reassure the smaller girl.
Chloe blinked rapidly as though bracing herself.