One near death and one kidnapping ago.
What would the next hour bring, and could she possibly survive whatever occurred?
27
Too bad the driveway was unpaved or Mia would’ve burned rubber as she floored the gas in her rental car. She had to find Jessie before Pope did something horrific to the sweet young girl. But where had he taken her? He wasn’t from around here. Still, he’d likely been living somewhere close.
The motel. The only motel in town where a stranger like Pope could stay. Mia’s best chance to find Jessie was to interrogate the manager. True, Russ had probably already done that, but the manager might remember something helpful since Russ talked to him.
Back tires skidded, and she eased her foot up to safely make her way to the main road. She was about to turn on to the highway when her cell chimed. Caller ID didn’t display a name, but she answered using her car’s infotainment system in case it was an update on Chuck, Eddie, or Jessie.
“Mia, it’s Sydney,” her urgent voice came over the car speaker.
Mia sighed. The call had nothing to do with Jessie. Sydney had probably heard about Kurt on the local grapevine and wanted to know if it was true.
“What’s up?” Mia asked.
“Is the documentary crew still filming over there?”
Odd question. “Nothing was scheduled tonight, why?”
Sydney exhaled audibly through the phone. “Nikki got a call an hour or so ago. Said they wanted her to help with the filming. But it’s getting late, and she’s still gone. I’m starting to freak out.”
Clearly, Nikki had lied. She wasn’t at Evergreen.
“There’s no filming going on,” Mia said. “Do you know who called her?”
“No. She was acting all secretive.” Sydney sighed. “She probably snuck out to meet her friend Emily or even a boy. I’m really gonna let her have it when she gets home.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for her and call me when she does get there.” Mia disconnected, hoping the teen came home on her own.
She turned on the signal, but sat at the end of the driveway trying to decide what to do.
What if Nikki was somehow connected to Jessie’s disappearance or Eddie’s whereabouts?
She’d flirted with all the boys in the Wilderness Ways group as Sydney had feared, but in particular, Nikki watched Eddie a lot.
Could Eddie have called her? But how? His cell had been confiscated like all program participants at arrival. Still, if Eddie was on the run, a fellow teen and an impressionable girl would be a likely person to call. She knew the area and could make sure he had a safe place to hide.
Where would Nikki think was safe around here?
The cabin. That’s it!
She rang Sydney back. In high school Mia had partied with Sydney’s cousin and his friends at her uncle’s cabin. It was so secluded no one ever caught them. A perfect place for Nikki to hide Eddie.
“Did you find her?” Sydney’s hopeful tone cut through Mia.
“Sorry, no, but I have an idea,” Mia said. “Does your uncle still have that place on the lake?”
“Yeah, why?” Sydney asked.
“Call 911 and tell them you think Nikki took Eddie Kramer there.”
“What? Eddie who?”
“No time to explain. Just do it. The dispatcher will understand.” Mia tapped the screen to end the call.
The cabin was less than two miles away. She ignored her blinker still signaling to the right and turned the other direction.
