Stella shifted, as if suddenly uncomfortable. “The other male counselors—Wade and Crispin—tell us what to do, or they’ll ask questions if they’re teaching us something. And Mr. Sprague talks to all of us if he sees us. He’s always asking how we’re doing and stuff like that.”
“Did you ever see Olivia alone with any of the staff members?” Aaron asked. “When they weren’t instructing you?”
Stella shook her head. “No.”
“Tatum said something about Olivia having a boyfriend back home,” Aaron said. “Did she ever say anything about him coming to see her here?”
“No.” Stella brightened. “Do you think that’s what happened? Maybe they ran away together. I mean, if he’s sixteen he can drive, right?”
“Did she ever mention running away with this boy?” Aaron asked.
“No.”
“What did she tell you about him?” Aaron asked.
Stella slumped, her elation having vanished. “She said after her parents found out she was sneaking off to see him, they made him promise to never contact her again and he hadn’t. She was kind of mad about that and said she never wanted to see him again.”
“Was Olivia happy here at camp?” Aaron asked.
Stella considered the question. “She seemed to really like it here until a couple of weeks ago.”
“What happened a couple of weeks ago?” Aaron asked.
“I don’t know. She just…” She ducked her head, gnawing her bottom lip again.
“Just what?” Aaron prompted.
“She was crying one night, after lights out. I asked her what was wrong and she just said she wanted to go home.”
“Do you have any idea what was wrong? Do you remember anything happening?”
“I thought she was just homesick. We all feel that way sometimes.”
“After that, was she still homesick?”
“She was just…quieter. Like maybe she was sad. But she didn’t want to talk about it.”
“Anything else you think we should know? Anything that might help us find her?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t think of anything.”
“Thank you for your help.” He stood. Mrs. Mason moved forward. “I’ve got my car at the front door,” she said. “Tatum has a wheelchair.”
Tatum wheeled the chair forward and Stella left with her and Mrs. Mason.
When they were alone, Aaron turned to Willa. “I saw your brother. I was surprised to find out he works here.”
Willa didn’t mention that she had been surprised, too. “He was home with me all night,” she said. “Until after I got the search and rescue call that Olivia was missing.”
“Are you sure?” Aaron asked. “He could have slipped away while you were asleep.”
“And abducted a girl in the middle of the night? I can’t believe you’re suggesting something so ridiculous.” She struggled to keep her voice down, but fury made her shake. She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to physically attack him.
“It’s my job to ask hard questions,” he said. “Of everyone.” Everything about him was hard—his voice, his clenched jaw, the look in his eyes. Cop mode, she had thought of it, before she had to face the demeanor herself after Gary was arrested.
“I’ve given you my answers,” she said. “Why can’t you accept them?” She didn’t wait for his reply, but turned and stalked across the lobby, aware of the stares of people milling about the space.
“Aaron!”
