Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie Page B

through a sea of empty tables to the one Jam and Glane were sitting at near the bar. A bottle of beer stood on the table in front of Glane, who looked like a different person.The beard was gone, and he was dressed in dark jeans and a crisp, white T-shirt. He looked up from the menu he was studying as I approached.
    â€˜Mmnn.’ He licked his lips. ‘Buckwheat pancakes with maple syrup for me.’
    I sat down. ‘Skinned rabbits not available, then?’ I said.
    Glane smiled. ‘No. Anyway, I only eat meat when there is nothing else. And when I’ve killed it myself.’ He glanced sideways at me. ‘I don’t see why someone else should have to skin my rabbits for me.’
    I ignored this and cleared my throat. ‘I’ve got something to tell you.’
    â€˜What?’ Jam took a long swig of Glane’s beer. I noticed he was wearing new clothes too. Much nicer than mine. Jeans and a black jumper. His hair was damp and slicked back from his face.
    I hesitated. ‘Martha Lauren Purditt went missing in Evanport, near where she was born. It’s in Connecticut.’
    Jam raised his eyebrows. ‘So?’
    â€˜I’m going there. Now. I’ve checked the internet directories. The Purditts – the family who lost her – still live there.’
    Jam frowned. ‘How d’you know it’s the same Purditts?’ he said.
    â€˜I looked back at the news stories from when . . . from when Martha went missing. Their names are Annie andSam Purditt. Bits and pieces of their address are in the different stories.’ I sighed. ‘I should have done it ages ago, but there was stuff I didn’t know then.’
    My mother’s face. Now I know her face I only have to see her and I’ll know if I’m Martha or not
.
    Glane scratched his freshly shaved chin. ‘But your parents? The police?’
    I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I was sure Mum and Dad had been involved in kidnapping me in the first place.
    â€˜Mum and Dad don’t understand how important it is for me to know who I am,’ I said, lamely.
    A slow smile curled across Glane’s mouth. ‘This seeking out of your birth family will not tell you who you are. It will only tell you if you are somebody’s missing child.’
    I shook my head. ‘Don’t you think the family I was taken from have a right to know what happened to me?’
    â€˜Yes, I do. But it will be hard. For everybody. You should wait. Talk to people first.’ Glane paused. ‘Lauren, I think you see dreams. You are not seeing what is real. What is right under your nose.’
    I stood up. ‘Right. Anyway, I’m going.’
    â€˜How?’ Jam cut in. ‘How’re you gonna get there?’ He took another swig of Glane’s beer.
    I took a deep breath. ‘I’m going to hitch-hike.’
    Jam spluttered his beer on the tablecloth. ‘No way,’ hesaid angrily. ‘I can’t believe you’d even consider that after what happened to us.’
    â€˜Well, what else can I do?’ I looked down, my face burning. ‘I just wanted to say thank you for everything you’ve done. And that I’ll pay you both back when I can.’
    My hands were shaking as I walked away.
    I stood at the hotel entrance, pulling on the second of my two ugly sweatshirts. The highway was a few hundred metres up the road.
    My tummy rumbled. I started to wish I’d timed my dramatic exit for after I’d eaten. But even if I left now I probably only had a few hours before Mum and Dad arrived.
    â€˜Nobody’s going to give you a ride wearing those shoes,’ a voice said behind me.
    I spun round. Jam was staring at my hot-pink trainers. He looked up. ‘You can’t do this, Lazerbrain. It’s too dangerous.’
    â€˜My decision.’ I folded my arms and walked outside.
    Damn, it was cold.
    â€˜Why are you mad at me?’ Jam