21
Not the First Time
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13
The application opens showing Emily’stext chains to the left. Names I do not recognize, the people in her life unknown to me. At the top are the people she was in contact with recently, the people who should have noticed that she’s not around anymore.
I see my own number, second from the top, replying that I’ll be over in an hour.
Above it another message, received this evening, and its conversation chain opens up filling most of the screen—the contact name isDad.
My stomach flips. I hesitate, unsure if I should read on. Up until now it hadn’t occurred to me that her family might already be looking for her. Officer Cortez didn’t mention anything like that on the phone. If Emily’s disappearance had already been reported she would have mentioned it unless, I suppose, it was reported in a different state. I scroll up to the last reply Emily made on Wednesday before she disappeared.
Weds Feb 10, 12:04pm
Sorry I missed your call. Just heading to a casting, I’ll call when I can.
No worries. Lemme know how it goes. And…break a leg?
Yesterday, 8:17am
Hope the audition went well?? Any news on the big one?
Yesterday, 7:43pm
Tried to call. Know you’re busy. I’m watching the game tonight so I’ll try you tomorrow. I want to hear about that big job.
Today, 6:49pm
Everything going good? You’re probably driving. Call me back xx
What job is he talking about? She must have been waiting to hear back about something. Curious, I scroll further up the conversation to find out more, roll back as far as January before I notice something odd. I stop scrolling abruptly.
To my surprise there’s another large gap in the conversation between her and her father. A gap where she didn’t reply to any of his messages for almost a week between the sixth and the twelfth of January. So Emily’s gone missing before.
The days preceding the gap read:
Fri Jan 1, 12:04am
Happy New Year honey! Hope it’s a good one
Sat Jan 2, 11:27am
Sorry for not calling New Year’s Eve honey. It got a bit out of hand at the bar. D’ya have a good one? Love ya kiddo xx
Love you too dad. Yeah, sorry, things are a bit crazy here right now too. Talk soon
No worries. Don’t work too hard. Call me when you can
Mon Jan 4, 3:15pm
Things calmed down yet? Lol! You still hanging out with Marla? You guys have fun over New Year? It’s good to know you got company out there.
Yeah, she’s fun. Listen dad, I don’t want to jinx it but there’s this big job, and it’s kind of out of the blue. It’s a big part, it could change everything. Anyway, I’m gonna find out by the end of this week. If it comes through I’ll head back home to celebrate before it all starts x
That’s such great news honey. I’d love to see you either way. Let me know when you might be coming back home & I’ll book some days off work. We’ll do some stuff
Weds Jan 6, 08:02am
