“Hey, I got it back together, and it worked better than new.”
“It was working before you dismantled it.”
We all turn to see our father coming our way.
“Sheriff said he’s already checked the car. Said there were enough people who saw Julie and Marty arrive together that they didn’t need any special forensics.”
While I doubt the Blue Gil police force could do forensics, I don’t say that.
Dad tosses a set of keys to my sister. “Liv, drive the car to the house. Ollie” —he looks at my brother— “you follow your sister and once the car’s there, everyone can meet at the cafe.”
“Sure thing,” Ollie replies.
Dad takes a deep breath. “Thank you for being herefor your mom.” He turns to me. “It’s good to haveeveryonehere.”
As he turns around, Liv reaches for my hand and squeezes. My eyes fill with moisture as I turn to her and ask, “Julie’s all right, right?”
“I want to say yes.”
Chapter
Fifteen
“If this was one of your shows,” Ollie asks as he sits beside me in the back seat of the truck, “what would happen?”
I turn to my brother. Liv is in the front seat with Matt. “Do you watch any of them?”
“Yeah,” Ollie says. “Maybe a better question is how do we avoid an ending like one of your shows?”
“We find her,” Matt says. “It’s after three. She knew your mom was planning a dinner with Jillian at home. I think we can rule out theshe doesn’t know she’s missingscenario.”
I turn away and watch the scenes beyond the windows as we travel southwest to Ruby Lake. While it’s in the same county, it’s two towns and multiple miles away. As one of the larger lakes in the area, per capita, Ruby has the most seasonal homes. It isn’t until after we’re fifteen minutes away from Blue Gil that I ask, “How did they get this far away?”
Liv cranes her neck toward the back seat. “We don’tknow they’re here. It’s the area that fits the phrogging concept the best.”
“Yes, it does. But reconsider this,” I say. “Ruby Lake made sense when we were first talking about phrogging, but let’s think about what we know. Julie and her friend were at the party just east of town. Her car never moved. No one is admitting to transporting them. How would they get twenty miles away?”
Matt slows the car and pulls off onto a side road.
There’s no traffic as he makes a complete turn, facing back toward the highway. Hitting the steering wheel with the palm of his hand, he turns, his expression pained and filled with pent-up frustration. “Then what should we do?”
“I say we go back to Blue Gil.” I look from Matt to Liv to Ollie. “You asked about my shows. Okay, in my show they’re either dead or being held against their will and will most likely not survive.” Before anyone can speak, I go on. “I’m not saying that’s what’s happening. I’m answering Ollie’s question.”
“Shit, Jillian,” my brother says.
“Oh, come on. You knew the answer. But this isn’t a show. What’s another possibility?”
“They’re found,” Matt repeats.
“Let’s break this down again. Why didn’t Julie take her car?” I ask.
“She was too drunk to drive,” Liv says.
“And?”
“She didn’t want to risk getting pulled over,” she answers.
“Maybe it was more than alcohol,” Matt adds.
