Page 29 of The Sleeping Girls

Not that she cared. Kelsey got what she deserved. And so did the others.

TWENTY-NINE

CROOKED CREEK POLICE STATION

Frustration knotted Ellie’s shoulders as she and Derrick entered the interview room, her worry for Kelsey growing with each minute that passed.

Bianca was a pretty blond with bronze skin and no tan lines that probably came from a tanning bed. Her bright pink lipstick matched the hot pink crop top she wore with jeans and black Converse sneakers. She sat, legs sprawled, arms hanging loose, a bored look on her face.

Her mother was the picture of a haughty trophy wife who frequented the country club, playing tennis, enjoying spa treatments and being catered to by the working class. She sat stiffly in the metal chair, hands folded in her lap as if she was afraid to touch anything for fear of being contaminated by germs. Obviously, the décor was subpar for an elitist woman like her.

Immediately, Ellie pegged Bianca as a mean girl just as the other girls had described her.

“Thank you for coming, Mrs. Copenhagen,” she said. “Bianca.”

“It’s not like we had a choice.” Disdain laced the mother’s tone. “That deputy didn’t seem to care that I had plans this evening.”

A seed of anger sprouted inside Ellie, and Derrick stiffened beside her.

“We’re sorry your day has been interrupted,” Derrick cut in with a hint of sarcasm. “But one of your daughter’s classmates is missing and her parents are terrified something has happened to her.”

The woman’s face blanched. “Yes, I heard about that Amber Alert. But I hardly see what that has to do with my daughter.”

“We’re talking to students and teachers at the school to see if any of them can shed light on Kelsey’s whereabouts and what happened to her.”

Bianca squared her shoulders, a small smile tilting her mouth. A smile that hinted at evil thoughts beneath. “I have no idea where she is,” Bianca said. “She and I didn’t hang out together.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that,” Ellie said. “That’s the reason we wanted to talk to you. You didn’t like Kelsey and her friends, did you?”

Bianca shrugged again. “I have a lot of friends, I didn’t need those losers leeching onto me.”

“Actually Kelsey wasn’t a loser. She was an honor student and had plans to attend Juilliard.”

Mrs. Copenhagen tapped her manicured nails on her thigh. “Well, I hope you find her and I’m sorry we can’t help you.” She stood, the emerald on her right hand sparkling beneath the fluorescent light. “Now, we need to get going.”

Derrick set a folder on the table. “Not before we ask your daughter about these.”

Irritation flashed in the woman’s eyes, but she sat, her fingers tapping impatiently.

Bianca simply raised a blond brow but showed no reaction as Derrick showed them the social media posts. Mrs. Copenhagen angled her head to look at them, eyes crinkling as if she was trying to comprehend what was going on.

“If this girl wanted to get into Juilliard, she’s a fool to post those,” Mrs. Copenhagen said with a smirk.

“Shedidn’t post them,” Ellie said.

“The picture of the girls in the locker room was taken without permission,” Derrick continued, his voice as cold as ice. “We believe your daughter took it and posted it to humiliate Kelsey and her friends.”

Rage darkened the mother’s eyes. “My daughter is too dignified to do something like that.”

“We know for a fact that she bullied Kelsey and the other girls,” Ellie said, watching Bianca for a reaction. “And that she was jealous because a boy at school asked Kelsey to Homecoming instead of her.”

Bianca rolled her eyes.

Derrick pulled an envelope from his pocket. “Actually the FBI’s cyber team is working on verifying who posted the locker room photo and created the meme. We’ll need Bianca’s phone and computer.”

“Seriously?” Mrs. Copenhagen said. “You need warrants for those.”

“Then we’ll get them.” Ellie gave Bianca a pointed look. “If you didn’t post them, make it easy and hand over your laptop and phone and we can clear this up right away.”

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