Chapter 31

Sunday 30th August, 8pm

“Mike,” said his father, “we’re going to have to get them out of wherever they are. My fear is that if we call the police, they’ll burst in and we’ll have bigger problems. We’re going to need Jim to help us. Although I despise what he’s done, I know we’re going to need him”

“What about Stefan, could he help us?” he asked.

“Is he in?”

“I’m not sure, I’ll take a look.”

While Mike visited the neighbours house, Maurice went upstairs to console Daniele, who lay on her stomach on their big bed, weeping.

“We’ll find her, don’t worry” he said, resting his hand on her back.

“It’s all so dreadful. I know she’s in trouble, I can feel it. Maurice, we’ve got to get to her. What is they are filming it? Eh? I’ve read about these things. There are some very sick people out there.”

“We’ll find her. When Andre gets here, we’ll set off. I think we’ll need the help of Jim”

“But you were so rude to him. I don’t know if he’ll want to face you, anyway!” she sobbed.

“I was hardly going to congratulate him, was I?” he snarled, his face colouring once again.

“Maurice, I’ve never told you this, but I lost my virginity at about the same age as Lori”

“What, at fifteen?”

“About that, yes.”

“But that doesn’t make it right, does it?”

“No, but sometimes, it just happens that way. I’m disappointed, but not really angry. But I am very worried about wherever they’ve gone. It’s very late now, especially for a Sunday”

The kitchen door slammed shut as Mike returned. “Dad, there’s nobody there!” he shouted up the stairs.

“OK, can you give Jim a call, tell him I’m sorry but we’d like his help. We can collect him from the station if he wants!”

“What if he won’t help?”

“Please, you’ll have to convince him. Tell him what we know. Tell him that Lori is in danger and that we’re going to go and look for her!”

Mike made the call and talked quietly to Jim. He told him most of the things that they had learned that evening, with the exception of some of the hearsay that had been gathered from Marlene. He put the phone down and clumped upstairs.

“OK, he’ll be at the station in about thirty minutes. I said we’d collect him. What about Nikki’s dad?”

“I’ll call him. We’ll need his car as well, I think”

The group had assembled by just after ten o’clock. Daniele, Maurice and Andre discussed the route they should take, deciding that they would investigate the Lausanne site first.

“We’ll call here once we get to the outskirts of Lausanne” said Maurice, “just in case they come home. Then we’ll call you once we’ve investigated the first place. If we don’t find anything, we’ll back track and make our way to Lauterbrunnen, again calling just before we go up the mountain.”

“I left a note for Jean telling her briefly what’s happened, but I expect she’ll call here as soon as she reads the note.” said Andre, his arm around Daniele. “You’ll have to bring her up to date. I’m sure she’ll want to be here. She can take a cab or walk” The phone rang just as Andre picked up his coat. Mike answered it and replaced the receiver.

“That’s Jim, he’s at the station.” There was a slight buzz in his voice as his excitement at the expedition fired his imagination. His father was busy bundling blankets and clean clothes into the two cars.

“Come on then! Maps?” asked Maurice.

“Got them” replied Mike.