Authors: Wendy Potocki
“I appreciate that you're being so loyal, but everything she said is important.”
“But ... I don't see ...”
“It's not for you to understand,” he said, cutting her off and unwittingly playing into her hand. “It's for us to decide.”
“Okay, well, it was that she’d just found out that her dad bought her way into this school. That he was donating money, and in return, she was being given lead roles.”
Una emitted a soft moan. A dead silence followed in the wake of the disturbing allegation.
“It's what I meant earlier … when I asked how you knew she was missing,” Melissa continued. “I didn't want to bring up the fact that she was really mad at her parents, but now that I have, I think she might be cooling off. You know, thinking things over.”
She was pleased with how she’d handled things. She was back on sure-footing, and the ball was in their court. Of course when Brandi was found, that dirty little secret would be out. Further, their stories wouldn’t match, but Brandi could deny saying those things all she wanted since it wouldn't matter.
Larabee twitched in his seat, shooting a look back at Lake.
“What you say contradicts what she told her father. He said that Brandi always talked about how jealous you were that she was landing these roles. She told him that was why you were so mad at her. She said that it was the reason you blamed a ... Zoe Ryan for what happened in the woods,” he said, referring to his notes.
“Jealous? No. Envious maybe, but to me, it only meant I had to work harder. That's how it
works in dance. You only have yourself to blame when things don't work out.”
Una cleared her throat, feeling guilty about her methodology of choosing dancers. Melissa was a better dancer than either of those two girls. If Viktor
hadn't wanted Melissa around, and the school hadn't needed money, she could have had any part she wanted.
“Is this right, Madam Velofsky? Is what Ms. Solange says true?” Larabee asked, addressing the woman who looked as if she was straddling a fissure.
“Yes,” she quietly confirmed. “Unfortunately, it's true.”
Larabee only gave her a blank stare. He’d been wrong. The facts had led him in one direction, but it seemed there was an entirely different undercurrent. It definitely gave Brandi a reason to bolt from the school, and to not be too keen on seeing her dear, old dad.
Larabee's cell went off. Melissa watched him pacing, hearing only his responses to the veiled conversation.
“Yes. Is that right? Okay,” he said, snapping the phone shut and tucking it back in his hip pocket. Hoping Brandi had made it home, his face told her otherwise. He looked angry, but about what, she didn’t know.
“Seems I was wrong.”
“About?” Una prodded.
“About Brandi not leaving.”
“What?” Una said, unable to hold back her thoughts. “You didn’t think Brandi left? I don't understand. Why would you think such a thing?”
“It's just we police officers go by evidence. Things we can prove. That note there only says that she intended to leave. I wanted to place her on the train, but I couldn't get confirmation, but we finally got in touch with Mr. Shankton. He works at the depot, and has been selling tickets there for over thirty years. He says that she was there—first thing this morning. It fits with the note, and with the text she sent to her dad, and with what you said, Ms. Solange.”
“Thank God!” Una blurted, making the sign of the cross with her right hand.
The Sergeant scrutinized the young dancer. Not liking what he was seeing, he had a feeling she was a filthy, little liar … just like the daughter of his girlfriend, Carol. Accusing him of coming onto her, Laurie was a selfish brat that didn't want her mother to be happy.
“Guess we'll concentrate our efforts elsewhere. Thank you for your cooperation,” he said turning to Madam Velofsky. “And we'll keep you posted with any new developments.”
“Thank you, Sergeant Larabee. We would be most grateful to know when she arrives home. Not just for the sake of the school's reputation, but because I care about her, as I do all my students.”
“Yeah, I'm sure you do,” he drawled.
Larabee threw the door open, rushing through the portal. Todd meeting Lake's eye, Foster threw his hands up in the air. Not saying a word, he trailed his partner out the front door.
Chapter
Nineteen
“But what the hell happened to her? I mean, where could she be?” Collette asked.
The three gathered in Collette and Tina’s room seeking answers for the recent disappearance. Missy huddled with Tina on her bed, while Collette sat cross-legged on her own.
“I don't know,” Melissa responded, Tina's arm around her shoulders for moral support. “I told the police everything I knew. All I can think is that she didn't want to go back right now. It’s what I told the police, but they don’t want to listen.”
“But why didn’t she want to go home?” Collette queried, curious as to what the reason could be.
“Because quitting the school was a huge move—probably the first big decision that she made on her own. Think about it for a minute. She lived her whole life doing what her parents wanted. It would be rough facing them, but if you let them cool their heels ...” Melissa replied. Slightly changing her story to suit her audience, it was what she truly believed.
“You know, I think you're right,” Tina agreed.
“So you two think that it was her decision to drive everyone nuts by disappearing? She really doesn’t seem the type, does she?” Collette countered.
“You're asking the wrong person that question,” Melissa retorted, feeling entirely comfortable in speaking badly of her missing foul friend. “I got to know her better than anyone, and I think that she just loved being in the spotlight. In fact, I think she’d do just about anything to call attention to herself. Like her being friends with Zoe, she did it because Zoe is an
attention whore
, and that’s what she wanted—attention.”
“I hate to say this, but you're right,” Collette admitted. “She had that side to her, but don't you think it was partly due to her being naïve?”
“Totally,” was Melissa's direct answer.
“I second that,” Tina chimed in. “I never met anyone that ... well,
clueless
before. I don't mean to sound harsh, but she really didn't seem to connect the dots. And it I don’t think it was because she was stupid. It just seemed that she'd led a very sheltered life.”
“Yeah, one where she was taught to see the best in people,” Melissa mumbled, yawning. “Course that's not all bad.”
“It might be,” voiced Collette, the wheels in her head spinning.
“What does that mean?” queried Tina.
“It means that I'm wondering if she was seeing someone. She did go into town … and she might have hooked up with Mr. Wrong!”
“God, I hope not,” Tina responded. “It would be too horrible to imagine.”
“Yeah, it would, but I doubt it. With her big mouth, she would have said something to me about meeting someone. She couldn't keep anything secret. Not even about my mother being an alcoholic. Oh, crap! Why am I starting in on that?” Melissa asked, not expecting a reply. Stretching, she fell backward, cradling the back of her head in her open hands. “I should be concentrating on where she could be. Okay, I'm ruling out the boyfriend thing. There's the note for one thing ...”
“Oh, that's right!” Collette exclaimed, remembering the note.
“Where was she from again?” Tina asked.
“Wisconsin,” Melissa answered.
“Where in Wisconsin?”
“Don't remember.”
“Hmmm,” Tina responded. “Well, then did she buy a train ticket home or to the airport in Rome?”
“Don’t know that either, but why are you asking?”
“Well, because she may not have known anyone in Holybrook, but if she had to connect with a plane ...”
“… she may have met someone en route!” Collette responded, coming out of the hamstring stretch, and going into a side split. “Didn't even think about that either, but you are 100% correct.”
“There’s another possibility,” Melissa threw in, stifling another yawn. Although only 10 PM, it had been a long couple of days.
“Which is?” Collette asked, moving her upper body forward to increase the stretch.
“That she went to Chicago.”
“Chicago? Why in a pig's knuckle would she do that?” Collette said, jumping all over Melissa's suggestion.
“Because that's where she went for the audition. If she was familiar with the area and thinking of hiding out awhile, it would be a good place to get lost.”
“I'll say,” Collette agreed.
“God, I hope you’re right,” Tina tacked on. “I’d rather think that it's all because of her being afraid to face her parents than because she was abducted by some psycho.”
“I hate to say this, but there's another possibility. It would bring things back to Holybrook,” Collette suggested, more subdued than she'd been all evening.
“Which is?” Melissa replied, stretching out her arms and trying to undo the knots tightening her muscles.
“Well, those train tracks are awfully close to those woods … and the woods are where that other girl went missing. You guys don't think it was the same group, do you?”
“The Innocents?” Tina mulled over her point. “Wasn't that a long time ago? And besides, was what Zoe said even true? I thought it was a story.”
“Partly a story. There was a missing girl named Barbara Moore. I asked about her ... and them,” Melissa offered.
“You did?” Tina asked, stiffening her spine and sitting up straighter.
“Wow, who'd you ask?” Collette queried.
“Bonnie. She’s a waitress at the diner. She says that most of what was said is pure fiction. And I found out that it was that Justin that pumped Bonnie for info.”
“Justin, huh? So what part is true?” Collette inquired.
“That Barbara Moore did disappear, and that a group called The Innocents did exist. However, they were way not fairly represented. Totally not a group of bloodthirsty crazies. The guy that owns the diner was one of them.”
“No shit!” Collette gasped.
“What'd she say about them?” Tina asked.
“Just that they were kids trying to rebel. You know, the usual teenage stuff.”
“Like some teenage girl nut cases dressing up in tutus and standing on their toes?” Collette joked.
“Yeah, no, not that crazy!” Missy teased. “Whoever is stupid enough to pursue something as insane as ballet has got to be certifiable!” The girls laughing, Melissa gave into another huge yawn. “God, I'm tired! I'm going to call it a night before I conk out right here.”
“You can, you know,” Tina said, speaking for both her and Collette. “We wouldn't mind if you crashed here. At least not until Brandi is found.”
“
If
she's found,” Collette interjected.
Tina flicked her hand dismissively at the suggestion.
“Oh, you! Of course they'll find her,” Tina stated rather adamantly.
“Well, on that bright note, I'm out of here,” Melissa said, springing to her feet and making her way to the door.
“Goodnight, Missy. Remember the offer's good if you change your mind.”
“Thanks, Tina. I think I'll be fine. Night, Collette, see you tomorrow.”
Starting her trek back to her room, she'd only gotten a few steps before the door shot open. Collette emerging, she ran to her side.
“Missy, I ... I have to tell you something,” she said, nervously shifting from one foot to the other.
“Well, it can't be that bad.”
“I'm afraid it is. You got pretty mad about it at the party. Then last night, I found out about you accusing Brandi, and ...”
“Excuse me, but what are we talking about?”
“Your mother … and her being a drinker and all. I was the one that told Zoe, not Brandi,” she confessed.
Stunned, in a million years, Missy would never have guessed it was Collette who had stabbed her in the back. Closing her eyes, she recalled every word of the unfair rage directed at her missing roommate. She should have checked before shooting off her mouth. She should have made sure. Collette's puppy dog eyes were pissing her off. She wished she'd just go away because she didn't have anything to say. Nothing at all.
“I'm sorry,” Collette explained, filling up the chilly silence. “I should have told you earlier, but I didn’t have the chance. It was an accident. I was talking to Tina, in the cafeteria, and she was there—behind me. I felt so stupid when I turned around and saw her. I couldn’t believe she was so
déclassé
as to bring it up, but it was my fault, Melissa, not Brandi’s. Please,” she said stepping forward and touching her arm, “can't we still be friends?”
Something about her complete honesty pulled at Missy’s heartstrings. Everyone makes mistakes, and she didn't want to go through life being as unforgiving and cold as her mother. When you did, you just ended up being alone.
“Sure,” she said nodding her head. Not ready to put on a smile, Collette understood. “But what did you say? That you found out last night?”