Evie took one more longing glance at her closet. “Are you sure?”
She moved toward her sister, and grasped her by the hand, squeezing. “Yes. I’m so glad you’re here, Eve.”
She gave her a winsome smile. “I’m glad I’m here, too.”
“Good! Now go get dressed!”
“Okay…Mom.” She rolled her eyes as she left the room and headed back to hers.
Sometimes, she had to be the bossy one. The one who made sure Evie was taking care of herself. The one who made her go to bed early when she looked exhausted from working all day. The one who made sure she got her fruits and vegetables and harped on her about drinking enough water.
It was because she cared. And because she knew what sacrifices Evie had made to allow her to go to college and graduate with honors.
And where was Brianna, their older sister, during all that time? Sipping piña coladas on a beach in the Caribbean with not a care in the world or a thought about them.
Chloe shook herself to come back to the present. She didn’t need to dwell on their older sister right now. Right now, she needed to find her twin and her best friend. She needed to find Evie.
***
After showering, she dressed and made her way to the police station to file a missing persons report. She told the officer everything that had happened the night before and that her sister had seemingly disappeared into thin air. He looked at her like she was crazy.
She wasn’t crazy. She hadn’t dreamed it. Her sister’s belongings were still in her flat.
The officer took down the report though he didn’t give her much hope.
Her next stop was the museum. It was closed. Police tape still barred the entrance. The shattered glass door was boarded up. She was unable to get inside, which made her heart sink. Her logical mind told her Evie was no longer inside, but shouldn’t she at least check?
As she stood on the steps of the museum trying to decide what to do next, her cell phone rang. It was Bruce.
“I was calling to check on ye, lass.”
“I appreciate that. I’m just…out of sorts. I filed a missing persons report.”
There was a long silence, then, “I thought you wanted me to go with you.”
Her hand tightened on the phone. She didn’t want to tell him she didn’t want him with her. She opted to tell a trivial lie. “I got up early this morning to go. I didn’t want to bother you.”
Another beat of silence. “How about I pick you up and take you to lunch? To take your mind off things for a while.”
She glanced at the parking lot, her heart in her throat though she was unable to explain it.
“I ken ye’re worried about yer sister,” he said, his voice full of sympathy and concern. “I would be, too, if I were in yer shoes.”
“I am worried. She had a blue velvet bag. It was collected with her shoes and her handbag from the museum bathroom. I’ve never seen it before, and I have no idea where she got it.”
The bag that was missing after he left last night.
“Perhaps a jewelry bag?” He acted as though he knew nothing about it.
She shook her head as if he could see. “She doesn’t wear jewelry.”
Chloe knew this to be a fact. She and Evie had gotten their ears pierced when they were twelve, but Evie had had trouble with hers and ended up removing the studs and letting the holes grow in. She never wore earrings or anything else.
“Oh, well, perhaps for something else, then?”
“But what?” Chloe insisted. And why was she so determined to find out?
“I have to be at the pub this evening. How about an early dinner?” Bruce asked, changing the subject.
