Page 28 of Did You See Evie

“I’ve already explained to Mr. Lake, and in the process, you, everything that happened. All the girls were asleep by midnight. Four hours later, Evie was missing.”

“Something had to happen during that time gap.”

“Obviously.” I march ahead to the next classroom, wishing I could leave him behind.

“You think it’s possible she ran away?” he asks. “I mean, it’s typical for someone her age.”

“And leave all her things behind? Including her cell phone?” I say, harshly. “That doesn’t sound very typical to me.”

“We have to make sure we’re exploring every possibility.”

“Evie wouldn’t have run away. I know that.”

I always made myself available to Evie, whether she needed assistance on the court or a ride home. She didn’t need to run away when she had me. My intuition eats away at me as I remember feeling as though Evie wanted to tell me something. Once outside her house, and again inside the gymnasium before lights out. Both times we were interrupted, and I can’t help wondering if those incomplete conversations are somehow connected to what’s happening.

“Why are you here anyway?” I ask Reynolds, desperate to get out of my own head.

“Mr. Lake called me. I’m guessing he thought I’d be able to get to the school the fastest.”

Or maybe he just wanted another man on the premises. It’s hard to deny the subtle sexism that exists at Manning Academy, especially in sports. Even someone with a proven track record, like myself, has to outshine the male counterparts of a person’s cousin or a friend of a friend. The only thing that’s kept me in my position this long is the team’s winning streak, but I’m not sure even that could save me from the scandal of losing a child on my watch.

“We’re going to find her,” Reynolds says. There’s a sureness to his voice that is meant to sound comforting, but it catches me off guard. Reynolds and I have always had a contentious relationship. He must enjoy watching me squirm now as much as I enjoyed flaunting my win in front of him earlier in the week. Still, he’s a teacher. We’ve both made it our mission to work with children for a living, and now one of them could be in jeopardy.

“Let’s hope so,” I say, half under my breath.

As we’re walking to the next classroom, I pull out my phone.

There’s still no response from Nadia. The possibility that she’s involved in this—and that I might have unknowingly contributed—is enough to make me sick.

It takes almost an hour for us to search the entire building. We even went down into the school’s basement, a dank space that does nothing more but house unused sports equipment and homecoming decorations. Evie is nowhere to be found. There wasn’t even anything suggesting someone else might have been there. Now that we’ve covered the entire building, it’s as though Evie disappeared into thin air.

Then I think of that opened door, how it was mysteriously shut.

“Should we head back?” Reynolds asks me.

Despite his fitness levels, there’s a noticeable sheen of sweat on his forehead, and he’s out of breath. I realize I am too. It’s been quite the workout searching this whole area.

“Sure,” I say, leading the way.

When we return, Joanna, Mr. Lake and the rest of the team are where we left them. It’s almost like time has stood still in our absence.

“Well?” Lake asks when he sees us approach.

Reynolds shakes his head. “Nothing.”

Mr. Lake locks eyes with me for only a second before looking away. Is that shame in his stare? Fear?

“I guess it’s time to call the police,” he says.

FIFTEEN

After the police arrive, the hours pass in flashes.

Joanna, Mr. Lake and Coach Reynolds join me on more frantic searches of the school building. The four of us take turns questioning the girls again, all of whom insist they have no idea where Evie is. Eventually we start calling the girls’ parents. We don’t give them details about what happened, but tell them they need to retrieve their daughters as soon as possible.

By the time parents start showing up, the parking lot is littered with police cruisers.

“What’s going on?” Beth’s mother is the first to arrive. She approaches the school slowly, as though she’s afraid of what might have happened during the hours she was away.

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