Lost, My cat haven't come back Options

[JuliaSC]

Hello all!
I found this forum though google search when I was looking for tips and support to deal with missing cat.
My cat has been missing 6 days. Saturday I let him and his brother out. And my favorite and very special baby cat never came back. He is my number one! His personality is so calm and friendly, he does things I've never seen from other cats. You can just pick him up and he will lay in your arms until you put him back. My husband tried to play rough with him and this cat would never fight back, because he is just such a great laid-back cat! He is the best!
We have hanged flyers, added a post on craiglist, called microchip company, then like 7 different shelters in our area... No one had him.
I cry every day, even though I understand stress won't do me any good.
Reading some of your successful stories has helped me to get my hope back. I see that some cats came be missing weeks, months and even years and then make it back. It sure gives me the hope that my baby will be back too.
This is a horrible feeling. When my 13 years old cat died I thought I'd never adopt another one because part of me died with that cat. When I adopted Miles (well, my husband did actually, on Christmas, as a present for me to keep my company while he is gone for deployment). This cat made me smile, made other people laugh because of the things he does. He helped us adopt another cat (when Miles was little and we brought him to vet, we saw a kitten in a cage, Miles started playing with that kitty, so we had to adopt him). Since then they are the best friends. I also have 25 years old cat from my husband's grandma who passed away and we adopted her cat. Miles gets along with everyone, he is just amazing and unique cat. But now he is gone...

[JuliaSC]

I tried contacting pet detective and this guy would travel to my state and wants 1700k and I'm not even sure he offers 100% guarantee. I'd pay this price for having Miles back, but I afraid he won't find Miles and it will be another waste of money. I don't see any pet detective in my area. And I don't even have anything for the dog to sniff because Miles hangs out on the porch or sleeps in different parts of the house, and there is his brother here, so it would be hard to pick up Miles' smell.
I think what if he is really trapped? Then with no water... But my husband said if he got trapped in a shed or garage, there is no way someone wouldn't open that door for so long. I does makes sense though. We just try to hope for the best. But it's so hard now after the communicator put those negative thoughts in my head.
Please, keep replying to me, guys, it really helps to talk about it. I'm going through so much emotional pain right now, I can't even compare it with anything. I had similar when my 13 years old cat died I was going crazy. But not knowing where my baby is and if he is okay hurts a lot. I feel very weak right now I just can't let it go and do anything else but researching things about lost cats and how to keep hope. I feel so guilty. I feel I wasn't good enough and didn't protect him from what happened.