The police officer on duty heard the commotion and hurried out, reaching out to support Faye Hughes, whose legs had gone limp. "Ma'am, take your time, take your time," he said. "Don't panic."
Another officer handed her a glass of warm water.
Faye Hughes took the glass and drank it all in one go. After calming her frantic heart a little, she said, "My mother-in-law has dementia. She can't remember things. Last night, she suddenly left home by herself."
"We've searched the entire area, and the villagers helped us look in a lot of places, but we still haven't found her."
The officer listening to the side looked serious, taking notes as he asked, "Was she carrying anything? Like a GPS tracker, a cell phone, or something like that?"
Faye Hughes shook her head, her voice filled with regret. "No. We used to always have someone stay with her, so she could call for help anytime she needed anything."
