Page 53 of Reverse Perspective

“No. No one is here, but her phone is,” I say flatly. Nothing about this gives me a good or hopeful feeling.

“I’m on my way. We should be there in less than five minutes,” he says.

“I’m calling Leo,” I say before ending the call. This isn’t the time to abide by formalities. I find Leo’s contact and call him next. Just as I think the call is about to go to voicemail, he answers.

“Hello?” he says, slightly out of breath.

“Hey. Is Sadie with you by chance?” I ask.

“No. Everything okay?”

“No. We can’t find her. The door was left open and her phone is still here,” I say.

“When I left, Todd was pulling in the driveway. Have you talked to him?”

“What? He said he left before you did?”

“He did. When I was leaving he was pulling back in. He must have forgotten something,” he says. “Let me finish what I’m doing and I’ll come by and help you guys look for her.”

“Alright,” I sigh. “Thanks, man.”

“What did he say?” Dean asks as we walk back into the living room.

“He said Todd was coming back into the driveway,” I say. “Why would he lie?”

“Ask him when he gets here,” Dean says as he points outside to where Todd just flew into the driveway, “Everyone is coming over.”

“Do you think she…” Mason starts to ask.

“Let’s not go there just yet,” Dean says with a snappy tone. Mason just nods and stays quiet.

“Hey. You find her yet?” Todd says as he comes in with Stacy in tow.

“No. Why didn’t you say you came back to the house?” I ask with more hostility than intended.

“What are you talking about?” Todd asks. “I went to Billy’s to get Stacy because her car has to stay there.”

“Why would he say that then?” Dean asks.

“Fuck if I know. Maybe it wasn’t me and he thought it was,” Todd says defensively.

“Maybe?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

“That’s not what I meant and you fucking know it, Lance. Why the fuck would I lie about coming back here or not?”

“He’s been at the shop with me for hours. Ask Billy,” Stacy says.

“Respectfully. That doesn’t mean much coming from his girlfriend,” I say.

“What the fuck does that have to do with it? What are you accusing him of?” Stacy snaps.

“Relax, please,” Todd says to her.

“What I know is we trusted you with her and now she’s gone and supposedly you were seen coming back but deny it,” I say.

“What the fuck do you want me to say?” Todd asks, raising his voice.

“The fucking truth,” I shout.

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