Page 134 of A Whole New Play

“Here you go, Miss,” an older gentleman hands me my phone after picking it up off the ground.

“Thank you,” I murmur in shock.

Concern fills his gaze. “Are you all right, miss?”

I force myself to nod. “I’m fine. Thank you.” I turn on my heel and walk out of the line. Frantically, I type a text back to my dad.

What do you mean she’s missing? I just saw her half an hour ago!

Three bubbles appear right away.

I’m just telling you what the cops told Carter. The police are securing the stadium exits. But since you’re on the box level, I thought I’d tell you so you can join the search for her there.

Immediately, I reply.

I’m on it.

My heart races in my chest at a pace I never knew possible as I grip my phone in my fist and begin to scour the crowd around me for any sign of Abby.

Where could she have gone?

Did she leave on her own or did someone take her?

The thought makes me want to vomit.

Adrenaline makes my hands shake as I walk through the box level. My head swings from side to side. My eyes travel up and down. My heart leaps into my throat when I see a little girl with brown hair. But just before I call out to her, she turns and I see her profile. She’s not Abby.

I don’t want to, but I force my mind to go to the place of thinking like someone who would take Abby.

Where would they go?

Where could they hide?

Even now, I see other security personnel searching the area like I am.

The men and women are focused. They’re taking this situation seriously.

What about the bathroom?

I look up and search for a sign indicating a bathroom is nearby. The suites have private restrooms, but with how crowded they are, surely this level has additional bathrooms for guests to use.

Sure enough, I find one. I immediately race inside and call out, “Abby?”

I’m met with silence.

I refuse to be discouraged. I rush out of the bathroom and shout into the men’s restroom. “Abby?”

“Uh,” A guy clears his throat awkwardly. “This is the men’s restroom.”

“Sorry,” I call back, listening afterward to see if I hear the sound of a struggle or Abby calling back to me.

Nothing.

I leave and find another restroom.

Security might have already done this, but in case they haven’t, I’m going to do it myself. I have to do something. It’s not like I can go back into the suite and watch the rest of the game knowing Abby is missing.

The next two bathrooms I search have the same outcome as the first.

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