Page 8 of The Sleeping Girls

“Do you see anything out of the ordinary?” Ellie asked Jean.

Jean’s breathing rattled out. “Kelsey usually makes her bed neatly. She’s a little on the OCD side.”

That explained the color-coded clothing hanging in the closet and the order in the room. But the bedding was rumpled.

“Do you see her phone or computer?”

Mrs. Tiller glanced around, then hurried to Kelsey’s backpack. A second later, she removed a laptop. “It’s here.”

“What about her phone?”

Jean searched Kelsey’s desk while Ellie checked the bed. She pulled back the covers, dug into the sheets then checked beneath the mattress and the floor. Nothing.

“She probably has her phone with her,” Mrs. Tiller said. “It’s always glued to her hands.”

“We’ll need her number to see if we can track her phone,” Ellie said.

Her concern mounted as she crossed the room. When she reached the window, she noted it was unlocked and slightly ajar.

“Is this window usually locked at night?” Ellie asked.

Jean looked down at the window. “Usually, yes.”

Ellie peered closer. “No sign the lock was picked which suggests Kelsey may have unlocked it herself.”

Confusion marred the mother’s face. “I don’t understand.”

“It means she may have opened it to let someone inside or to climb out. Are you sure she hasn’t snuck out before?”

The woman’s eyes widened in stunned surprise at the suggestion. “No, Kelsey’s a good girl. Besides, I told you we had plans to shop for homecoming dresses today and she wouldn’t miss that.”

“Check her closet, ma’am,” Ellie said. “Make sure her clothes are there, and if she has a suitcase, that it is as well.” Although, if the girl had run away for some reason, most likely she would have taken her backpack and computer and they were right here.

Panic streaked the woman’s eyes, but she raced to the closet and Ellie heard hangers being shifted, drawers opening.

Jean lifted a small purple rolling suitcase. “Her bag is here. And I don’t think any of her clothes are missing.” Jean ran her fingers through her hair. “If she did go out on her own, she’ll come back, right?”

Various possibilities ticked through Ellie’s mind. “Hopefully so. But I’d still like to put a trace on her phone as well as yours and your husband’s, in case Kelsey tries to call.”

Jean’s face paled to a milky white as the implications sank in.

EIGHT

Ellie returned to the living room, Kelsey’s laptop in hand. Jean followed on her heels, her fear palpable as she called Kelsey’s cell phone again.

“Kelsey, if you get this message, please call me right away. Dad and I are worried sick about you.” She inhaled sharply. “If you left to meet up with someone, you aren’t in trouble, but I n… need to know you’re okay… Please, please call h… home.”

Kelsey’s father looked more harried than before, his face ruddy with emotions.

Deputy Landrum had come inside and stood by the doorway with Shondra. Ellie explained about the unlocked window. “Kelsey’s cell phone is missing. Did you find it or see anything suspicious outside?”

“No. We didn’t find a phone either,” Shondra said.

Ellie addressed Deputy Landrum. “Kelsey’s window was unlocked. Check the area around it and look for footprints in case she climbed out or someone else was here. Deputy Eastwood, start canvassing the neighbors. Landrum can help after he finishes with the window. I’ll request a team to search the woods,” Ellie continued. If Kelsey ran away, she had a reason.

And if she was meeting someone, she had secrets.

The deputies headed to the door, and Ellie called for the search team then turned to the couple. “Please think, Jean, did you hear anything during the night? A voice? Footsteps?”

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