“You know, the girl with the dark hair, the one who has a really good voice. She’s wearing short-shorts and a halter top.”You couldn’t miss her.
“Oh, her. She got bored and went home a while ago,” said Dave.
“Someone gave her a ride?”
“No. She said the cottages are just a little way down the beach, so she walked. I assigned two female student rangers to escort her, but she wanted to go alone. She even said if they followed her, she’d report me for harassment.” Dave shook his head in disgust.
“She wanted me to give you a message,” the tall girl who’d been singing with Nicole chimed in. “She said not to worry, she’d meet you at the windmill, and to bring the clothes she left in your car.”
Caitlin understood: Nicole had meant that she didn’t have to worry about Pam finding out. Nicole would hide in the windmill until Caitlin returned, and then she’d change back into her baggy T-shirt and leggings.
I should’ve known she’d never stay for the entire party, thought Caitlin. But she was too concerned about Donald’s fate to be upset at Nicole for breaking her promise. Heading home, she fretted,I hope he doesn’t get in so much trouble with Dave that he isn’t allowed to meet up with me tomorrow night.And she spent the rest of the drive planning how she and Donald could see each other that fall.
When Caitlin reached the cottages and parked at the far end of the shared driveway, she was relieved that she didn’t see Pam and Bob’s car in any of the spaces reserved for guests. Avoiding the outdoor lighting, she tiptoed to the windmill and creaked open the door. “Nicole?” she whispered into the dark. “Nicole? Are you in here?”
Not wanting to turn on the single, overhead lightbulb, Caitlin felt along the floor near the entrance until her fingers clasped the flashlight her uncle kept there. She switched it on and crept up the stairs to the loft. Nicole wasn’t there, either, so Caitlin set the teen’s T-shirt and leggings on top of a large package of paper towels, where she could easily find them. She went downstairs and put the flashlight back where it belonged and then hurried across the green to Nicole’s cottage.
It was dark and no one answered when she rapped the door, so she cut through the small stretch of woods leading to the bay. Fat clouds galloped across the moon, intermittently obscuring its light, and twice she stumbled on thick roots before she reached the stairs to the beach. She squinted into the distance but she didn’t see anyone approaching.
“Nicole?” she called softly. Her question was answered only by theshh-shh-shhof waves lapping the shore.
She’d better hurry before the tide comes all the way in.Caitlin sat down on the top step, figuring she’d wait there untilNicole returned. But then it occurred to her that she should move the car down the street.That way, if my aunt and uncle peek outside, they won’t see it and wonder where we are, since we’re supposed to hang out at the cottage together until Pam and Bob get back around eleven or twelve.
She dashed through the woods, and stopped to check Nicole’s cottage and the windmill again, but both were dark and empty. Caitlin had just reached the driveway, when Bob and Pam returned, much earlier than expected. Caitlin momentarily froze in the glare of their headlights. She shoved the car keys into her pocket and forced a smile as the couple got out of their vehicle.
“Hi, there, Caitlin. How was the party?” slurred Pam, clearly tipsy. “Did you girls have fun?”
“Um, yes, we did.” Caitlin peeked over her shoulder, hoping that somehow Nicole had materialized behind her. Instead, she saw her aunt coming out of the front door to the house.
“Good, I’m glad. Nicole seemed so happy to be spending the evening with you and your friends,” Mrs. McDougal gushed as Lydia reached them.
“Hello, Pam. Hi, Bob.” She turned to her niece. “Donald just called, but I didn’t think you were home yet. He said he’d try again in a few minutes, so you might want to come inside so the phone doesn’t wake your uncle.”
Uh-oh. If Donald’s calling this late, he must be really upset. I bet Dave chewed him out all the way back to the station, Caitlin surmised.
“Okay, I’ll be right in. I was just telling Mrs. and Mr. McDougal how much fun Nicole and I had at the party,” she said, stalling. She’d hoped to buy a few minutes before Bob and Pam headed to their cottage, but her plan didn’t work.
“Where is my daughter, anyway?” asked Pam.
“Uh, I’m not sure.”
“What do you mean?”
There was no way around it, so Caitlin confessed, “She, um, she decided to walk to the cottages by herself, on the beach. And she’s not here yet.”
“She walked backalone? Why didn’t you stop her?” exclaimed Mrs. McDougal.
“I-I-I didn’t know she’d left the party. She promised me she’d stay till the end.”
“What do you mean you didn’t know?” Pam’s volume grew louder with each question she asked. “Weren’t you with her?”
“No. I-I went for a walk with my boyfriend and when I got back, everyone said Nicole was bored so she left. The chaperone tried to send two rangers to go with her, but Nicole wouldn’t let them.” Caitlin didn’t add,She even threatened to report Dave for harassment.
“Then he should’ve tried harder—andyoushouldn’t have left her alone in the first place!” Pam shouted accusingly. “If I had known you were so irresponsible, I never would’ve let her go to the party with you.”
Caitlin was shaking and speechless, but her aunt calmly and firmly replied, “I can appreciate that you’re upset, Pam. And I assure you that Caitlin and I will do everything we can to help you look for Nicole. But I will not allow you to speak to my niece that way. It isn’t Caitlin’s or the chaperone’s fault that Nicole walked away from the party. You’ve said it yourself—Nicole’s a very strong-willed girl.”
“How dare you criticize my daughter? Your niece’s behavior isn’t any better,” Pam screeched. “She might have you fooled into believing she’s a straight-A, straight-laced, goody-two-shoes prude, but obviously she’s not. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have abandoned Nicole to go do who-knows-what with her boyfriend!”
