Island of Lost Girls - Jennifer McMahon [70]
JUNE 17, 2006
PATCHES. THAT WASthe name of the border collie who found her. The farmer and Patches were just out for a walk when Patches began to whine, sniff, and dig at the dirt. The dirt moved away and the farmer saw the sheet of plywood. He pulled it back. When Ella Starkee looked up at him, the sun blinded her and she saw only his tall shadow. She thought he was God and waited for an elephant joke. When he didnt tell her one, she thought maybe it was her turn.
Whats big and gray and goes around and around in circles? Ella asked.
I see a ladder here, the farmer said. Patches whined.
An elephant stuck in a revolving door, Ella said.
Youre okay, he told her as he lowered the ladder. Im going to get you out of here.
WARRENS CAR WASNTin the driveway of Pat and Jims tiny modular home. Rhonda jumped out of the Honda and pounded on the door anyway. While she waited, she reached into the pocket of her jeans, found Lizzys abandoned button, and worked her fingers over it. Jim answered, looking more scruffy and disheveled than usual, like shed just interrupted a nap on the couch.
Warrens not here? Rhonda asked.
Jim shook his head. Try the Mini Mart. He left for there a couple hours ago.
No. Hes not there, and hes not answering his cell phone. Ive really gotta find him.
Is there news? Jim asked.
Rhonda told him about her discovery and the call shed made to the police. Crowley and his guys should be there by now. They might have found Ernie already. God, wouldnt that be something?
Jim nodded. It sure would be good for all this to be over. Poor Pats been through the wringer. She doesnt eat. Doesnt sleep. Shes just been consumed.
You know, I heard about her sisterthe one who was killed when they were kids.
Jim shifted in the doorway. Rubbed his eyes. She doesnt talk about it much. But its a hell of a thing for anyone to go throughto see your baby sister hit and dragged like that. And they were close. Real close. She and Birdie were inseparable.
The name hit Rhonda in the solar plexus, knocking the air from her lungs, rendering her unable to speak for several seconds.
Birdie? she asked at last, a whispery gasp.
Hadnt that been the name the rabbit called Ernie, the one on the hidden note Katy told them about?
One of the many clues that had never made any sense.
Her sister Rebecca, Jim explained. Thats what Pat always called her. Cause when she was born shed peck her little head just like a bird.
AUGUST 10, 1993
RHONDA LEFT THEchaos of the burning picnic table, the laughing and screaming adults spilling punch, her father dousing the flames with the garden hose hed finally managed to untangle with Rhondas help.
She slipped away quietly, down the path back toward the stage. It was dark, but the moon was out. It didnt matter though; she knew the way by heart. She could make the five-minute walk along the narrow trail blindfolded and not bump into a single tree.
The path dipped. Her nightgown rippled in the breeze, making her feel more like a ghost than a girl.
Ahead of her, she heard crying. Behind her, the loud thump of Van Morrison.
She hurried into the clearing and there, in the moonlight, she saw the three of them on the stage. Peter with a hammer. Tock with her arms wrapped around Lizzy, who was collapsed on the floor beside the trapdoor, sobbing.
It looked, to Rhonda, like they were rehearsing a scene from a play Rhonda didnt recognize.
Whats going on? she called out.
Youre just in time, Rhonda, Peter said.
For what? she asked.
Were going to tear the whole thing down, he told her. Now come up here and give me a hand.
JUNE 17, 2006
IT WAS QUARTERof nine by the time Rhonda pulled into the Mini Mart. The gas signs were off and the store and garage were dark, but Pats car was there in the lot.
Rhonda got to the front door and found it unlocked. Slowly, she opened it, hearing the little electronic ding-dong that went off at the registers as she entered.