I stand and orient myself at the door again.
Natalie.Belinda’s nanny and tutor.
The only one who doesn’t have an alibi for the time Belinda disappeared.
Natalie loves Belinda.Vinnie and Raven told me how she tried to help Belinda escape her abusive father.And Natalie would certainly never misspell the word “flashlight.”
But still…
Even the most trusted person can turn for the right reason.I don’t even want to think about what that reason could be.
Think, Daniela.
If you were taking a child who trusts you—even a little—how would you coax her out without a struggle?You wouldn’t grab.You’d make it feel like an adventure.You’d tell her to bring a blanket.You’d make sure there was no mess.
God, I don’t know.
I pivot to the dresser.The top drawer is underwear, and the second is T-shirts.
The third drawer won’t open at first, but when it does, I find nothing unusual.
“Belinda,” I say out loud.“Help me.Help me find what I’m looking for.”
