“Don’t talk nonsense. He’s a fine student counselor and I’ve never heard a bad word against him.” Mrs. Perez shook her finger at her daughter. “You can’t believe everything you hear.”
Jenna held up her hand to prevent an argument. “Do you happen to know Mrs. Turner’s phone number or where we can find her?”
“Yes. I know her number by heart, we were at school together.” Mrs. Perez rattled off the number.
Jenna entered it into her phone. “Has anyone called her?”
“Not that I’m aware.” Mrs. Perez frowned. “It would be too far for Laurie to walk alone at night. She lives in town.”
Jenna punched in the number. “I’ll call her now.” She walked down the hallway and went outside.
The phone rang several times before a woman answered. “This is Sheriff Alton, am I speaking with Jeanette Turner?”
“Yes, this is she.”
Not wanting to alarm the woman, Jenna kept her questions general. “Could you tell me when you last spoke to Laurie?”
“She called me last Thursday to chat about the Fall Festival, they’re having a parade and she wants me to come by. Why? Is she in trouble? It’s that damn pickup, isn’t it? Has she had an accident?”
Taking a deep breath, Jenna kept her voice calm and professional. “Not that I’m aware. I’m trying to locate her is all, she didn’t go home last night. She isn’t in trouble with the law, Mrs. Turner. If she calls or drops by could you let me know please?”
“Yes, I’ll call her, she always answers my calls.”
Concern for Laurie washed over Jenna. This wasn’t the news she needed right now. “Thank you.” She disconnected and walked back into the house and made her way to the kitchen. “Jeanette hasn’t heard from her either.”
“Okay. Vicky, pick up your phone and we’ll split the list and get everyone back to the gym.” Mrs. Perez grabbed the landline and looked at Jenna. “We’re used to calling everyone to make plans. I’ll make sure they’re all there.”
Relieved, Jenna smiled at her. “I really appreciate your help, thank you.” She handed her a card. “Here are my contact details, call me if you hear anything, anything at all no matter how insignificant.”
“Okay.” Mrs. Perez pulled out a notebook from a kitchen drawer. “Come on, Vicky, start dialing.”
Jenna headed for the door. “I’ll see myself out.”
She moved swiftly along the hallway and outside to Kane’s truck. After explaining, she leaned back in her seat. “The boyfriend may still be in the picture. We’ll go see him next and I’ll get out a media release and see if anyone has seen Laurie.”
“It would be unusual for a girl of her age with so many friends, on foot, not to contact someone. I mean, she could have dropped by here and called her mom, they are obviously on good terms. Even if she didn’t want to go home one of the friends from her inner circle would have seen her.” Kane turned the truck around and headed back to Stanton. “I guess we should speak to the boyfriend but I have a very bad feeling about this, Jenna. If she was attacked on the street, the chances of finding her alive are slim. I figure we conduct a search along Stanton, like you said no streetlights. Anyone could
have dragged her into the forest and no one would’ve heard or seen a thing.”
Four
“You’ll never amount to anything.” His ma’s voice shattered his thoughts. “You’re a waste of my time. The sooner you leave school and go work with your pa the better. I’ll be glad to see the back of you.”
“I’m sorry I don’t earn more, Ma.” He looked at her curled lip. “I’m doing the best I can. Dad doesn’t have a position for me yet. When he does, I’ll move out.”
“And leave me here with nothing to live on?” His ma shook her finger at him. “You’re just like him, he don’t care if I live or die.”
He couldn’t win. Nothing he said pleased her. “I’ll still look after you, Ma, but right now I have to go do something before dark.” He turned to leave.
“That’s right, leave me alone again.” She moved toward him, fists clenched. “If you were still little, I’d lock you in the closet to teach you some respect.”
He backed away from her, remembering the terror of the dark smelly hole in the wall. He’d learned enough “respect” to last a lifetime. “I do respect you, Ma. I’ll be back soon and we’ll watch TV.”
“Liar! You’re going to see her again, aren’t you?” She spat at him. “You’re just like your father, a no good, useless SOB.”
It was pointless arguing with her. When she looked at him, she saw a replica of the man who’d cheated on her and set up house with a bottle blonde. He headed for the door, he hated living here. The day his pa had walked out he’d made it clear he had no room for him in his new life but he’d promised him a position in his business even though he’d be expected to start at the bottom and work his way up. Of late, he’d started helping his pa, driving over on Sundays to do yard work, and dropping by each morning at his business to show his enthusiasm. He had to get away. Anything would be better than living with his ma.
He walked through the trees and along a track that led to the old barn and smiled at the sight of a friendly face. She was his everything and they had plans to move in together but first they needed to find a place for Laurie Turner. He walked to her and they kissed. “I’ve been looking forward to coming here all day.”