She pulled up the Bright Institute’s main number and tapped it. A cheery female voice answered on the second ring. “Bright Institute, how may I direct your call?”
“I need to speak with the dean of student affairs about one of your students.”
“One moment.”
The hold music was Vivaldi.
“Margaret Foster’s office, this is Margaret.”
“Margaret. I’m Stella Keenan. I run the Fate Mountain Diner. My assistant manager is a student there.”
“Stella. Hi. What can I do for you?”
“Nell Meadows hasn’t been showing up for her shifts and isn’t answering her phone. I went by her house, and she didn’t answer her door. But her car’s been sitting there the whole time. I’ve known Nell for two years. We’ve grown close, and this just isn’t like her. I’m starting to really worry. I was hoping you could tell me if she’s been to class this week.”
“I can’t release attendance records to non-family.”
“I know. I’m not asking you to put it in writing. I’m asking you to tell me, off the record, whether she’s been on campus.”
A longer pause.
“Hold on a minute.”
“Thank you.”
The hold music came back on. Stella sat at her kitchen table with the phone against her ear, watched the second hand on the clock above the stove, and tried to keep her breathing even.
The line picked back up. “Stella.” Margaret’s voice had changed. “Nell Meadows has missed every class this week.”
Stella closed her eyes.
“Have you called her family?” Margaret asked.
“I’m calling her mom next.”
“I’ll check with campus security. A missing young woman isn’t something we take lightly.”
“Thank you.”
“Let me know if you learn anything.”
Stella hung up and scrolled through her contacts toNell — emergency.A woman answered on the second ring.
“Mrs. Meadows, this is Stella Keenan. I’m Nell’s manager at the Fate Mountain Diner. I’m so sorry to bother you. I wanted to ask if you’ve heard from Nell since Sunday?”
“No, I haven’t. Is there a problem?”
Stella explained her concern.
“Nell has never just disappeared like this. Missing work and classes doesn’t sound like her.” Her mother’s voice cracked.
“Has she mentioned anything about anyone bothering her? A man. A classmate. Anyone.”
“Not that I know of.” Mrs. Meadows took a sharp breath.
“I’m going to find her. I promise. I’m going to the police station as soon as we get off this call.”
The Fate Mountain Police station was a low brick building on Cedar Street, a block off Main. The officer at the front desk was Officer Andre Holt, who was the mate of Joy Kincaid, a long time Fate Mountain Diner regular. He stood up when she came in.
