There was silence. Perhaps some of them had seen Alice. Perhaps some of them knew she had talked to Fanny. But nobody was going to give the name of Frances Cockburn to the police. It had something to do with solidarity. And even more with her intimidating size.

Elijah shook his head. He wanted just some help but no one cared. He put a hand to his face trying to calm his worries over this but kept going.

It was fully dark now and the fog hadn't disappeared, limiting the light. And nobody seemed to have seen the girls.

Elijah started back to Ben's, hoping they'd returned.

Maggie was sitting by the fire, a baby on her lap. Bram was on the floor, playing with a young boy. "Elijah!" Maggie said, when the constable entered. "Father, Will, and James and still looking." James was her husband. "Any news?" She looked frightened. "It ain't like them."

Elijah looked down sadly and shook his head. "Sorry, no. And I don't know where else to look." He covered his face. "Where could they be, Maggie? This isn't like them at all."

Maggie shook her head. "It makes no sense. Do you think it's possible.... they've come to harm? Fallen in t' wrong hands and can't return?" She shivered.
Just then, Ben entered. He was red and shaking. "Elijah. Any news?"

Elijah was about to reply when Ben came. He felt his heart drop that they hadn't been found. He started to the door. "In going to ask the station master to keep an eye out and then I'm grabbing a coach and riding to York. I'll be back by morning.... with help." He was going to tear the town apart to find them.

"Even if they boarded a train, we don't know if they went to York. They could have gone to Scarborough. They could have..." he sank down and put his head in his head. Then he suddenly looked up. "Alright, listen, telephone your colleagues in the towns they could have gone to and ask them to be on the look out, please. You go to York, I will travel to Scarborough. Maggie, if you or James or Will could stay at Elijah's place in case someone has information to report..."

Elijah nodded. "The station master can keep an eye out for anyone traveling by train. I'll go to York and find out anything I can. I Will be back as soon as I can and will just keep communication open in case someone hears something. "