Island of Lost Girls - Jennifer McMahon [59]
Rhonda squinted at Tock. What she saw in the other womans eyes wasnt simply rage: it was fear. You think she might know something, too, dont you?
Jesus, Rhonda!
Maybe part of you wonders if Peter is involved. I mean, its clear he wasnt hiking in the park that day, right? And if he lied to you about that
Peter doesnt lie to me.
Rhonda thought of telling Tock about the girl in the motel, about finding Peters keys in the cemetery. But then Tock looked past Rhonda into the living room and saw the frozen image in the TV screen: Peter bending over Rhonda in her cot.
You arepathetic , Tock said. Stay away from my family. She turned and left, slamming the door. Sadie jumped in Rhondas arms.
Its okay, girl, Rhonda cooed to the little white pig, her own voice shaking. Everythings just fine.
But that was a lie. In the past eleven days, Rhondas entire life had been turned upside down. Shed let a girl be kidnapped and come to question everything she thought she knew about Peter. Now Tock hated her, which probably meant shed never see Peter again. She stared at the image of fourteen-year-old Peter on the screen.
Second star to the right, she thought.
But she couldnt go back. She could only move forward.
Rhonda sat back down on the couch, but didnt pressPLAY . She picked up the phone instead and dialed the number for the Find Ernie hotline. Warren picked up on the first ring.
Its Rhonda, she said. I was hoping you could get out of there and meet me for a beer. Im going a little crazy here.
Sure, Warren said. Name the place.
Rhonda laughed. There was only one bar in town. The Silver Dollar. Its out on Route 6. Past the state forest.
I know where it is.
Good. Bring your cowboy hat and your singing voiceits karaoke night. Two-dollar drafts and an order of wings on the house if you buy a pitcher.
Hot damn! Im there! he said.
NOT LONG INTOtheir second pitcher, Rhonda told Warren about how shed spent her entire life pining away after Peter.
It was a relief to be honest about her feelings for once. To have someone to tell the whole story to. She thought that maybe, if she talked about it, if she got it all out, shed be purged. And ready to move forward at last.
Warren nodded, chewed his lip. So youre in love with him? He looked away from her and down into his beer. Beer he wasnt technically even old enough to be drinking, but like any resourceful college student, he carried a fake ID. Behind him, a string of Western lights with little plastic lassos, hats, and horses glowed against the rough wood paneled wall. They were shouting to hear each other over the noise of the other patrons and the guy on stage murdering an old Hank Williams song.
Rhonda laughed, shook her head. Ive decided its not even really Peter Im in love with. Its theidea of Peter. But Im not even sure what that means anymore. I think he might be involved, Warren.
Involved?
In taking Ernie. He was working on Laura Lees bug in the shop when Katy said the rabbit picked Ernie up from school. And I found his keys in the cemetery.
What? When?
That day you and I went. I hid them. I just couldnt tell you then. I couldnt believe Peter might have had anything to do with what happened to Ernie. It wasnt the truth I was working so hard to find, but my own twisted little version of it. Just like its not the real Peter Ive been in love with, but an eleven-year-old girls idea of a boy whos half real boy, half Peter Pan.
Have you shown anyone the keys? Peter? Crowley?
No one. Youre the first person Ive told. But theres more. Carl, who works at Pats, saw Peter on the day of the kidnapping at a motel in town. I think he was with Lizzy and that they may have had Ernie.
Hissister Lizzy? I thought you said shed run away or been kidnapped or something when you were still kids?
Rhonda nodded. I think she came back.
But why would they take Ernie?
Rhonda blew out a frustrated breath.
I dont know. None of it makes any