“She was already on her way home, but is on her way back. She reported the same thing—that Gina pulled Leah from her class early.”
“Okay, let’s call our resource officer while we wait to hear from Cindy.”
I swallow back my urge to shout at her. It won’t do any good, but the terror that someone took my girls is about to get the best of me. “Should we call the Pine Creek Falls PD?”
Melanie sighs. “I don’t know, Holt. Probably? That’s why I want to talk to our resource officer.”
“Reina’s on her way over,” Sandy says. I pace back and forth in the small space to give myself an outlet for my buzzing nerves. I want to race out the door and start searching for the girls right now. Are they safe? Who could have them? The list isn’t very long, and every one of them would have called me first.
And why is Gina Halbrand involved? None of this adds up. I wouldn’t have expected her to be involved with something like this. She might not be the most liked teacher, but I don’t think she would purposefully endanger a child either.
She might’ve dismissed Leah’s claims of bullying, but I’d never imagine her doing something to hurt my daughters herself.
Gia’s hand lands on my lower back. “Knox just picked up Finn. He updated your parents, and they’re calling everyone they know to see if they’ve seen the girls.”
I take a calming breath. Knowing my parents are doing what they can to find the girls helps me focus on what’s happening here. It relieves my need to run out and start searching for them.
Reina comes through the doors in her full police getup. Her red hair has been slicked back into a tight bun, and her green eyes are sharp as they take in the scene. She’s closer to Gia’s age than mine, so I don’t know her all that well. “What’s going on?”
“Lauren and Leah were taken out of school by Gina Halbrand, and we don’t know where they are,” I explain.
“And you’ve attempted to contact her?” Reina asks Sandy and Melanie.
Sandy nods. “Yes, but she’s not answering. I sent Lauren’s teacher to see if she’s in her classroom.” Sandy’s phone rings. “Front office.” She listens for a bit before hanging up. “That was Cindy. She said no one is in Gina’s classroom, and it’s been locked up for the night.”
“Have you looked at the security footage to see when and where she took them?” Reina asks.
Melanie shakes her head. “Not yet. Should we call in the police and make a report?”
“Yes,” Reina answers. “Have a squad car come out here while I pull up the feeds.”
It’s as if everyone else has a task now, and I’m stuck standing here like an idiot while my girls are missing.
Gia wraps her arms around my waist. Her eyes are filled with fear, and it oddly allows me to calm down. She needs me to be strong for her and the girls right now. I can’t afford to fall apart, worrying about the what-ifs. “Holt, what are we going to do?”
“We’re going to find them. Lauren and Leah are smart and capable. They’ll keep their heads, no matter who has them. They’ll be back with us by the end of the day.” The words are for both of us. If I believe them, then they’ll come true.
“Holt, can you come see if you recognize this car?” Reina calls out.
I walk through the office with Gia at my heels. I scan the monitor but shake my head. “That doesn’t look familiar.”
Reina sighs. “The windows are too tinted to see inside. Gina helps both girls into the car. Neither one seems to be afraid though, so my gut is saying they know who the driver is.”
“That could be any number of people in town,” I point out.
“Unfortunately,” Reina agrees.
A couple of officers arrive, and Reina stands to explain the situation. My eyes are glued to the screen where my girls are getting into a strange vehicle. They’d never have gone willingly if they didn’t know who was in the car, but who would have come to pick them up without telling me?
The answer hits me across the face like a slap. “It’s Kathy.”
“What?” Gia gasps.
I move closer to the officers, recognizing one of them. Sam holds his hand out to shake mine. We went to high school together, and he’s a good guy.
“Sam, I think I know who took the girls. We’ve had some issues recently with Hannah’s mom, and I have a feeling she picked the girls up for some reason.”
“What makes you say that?” the other officer asks. He’s older—his gray, bushy mustache likely aging him.
