Chapter 38: Another One Bites the Dust

“Help me, Dharma, help!”

“Haylee?!” I cried into the phone. My mind was still muddled from sleep, but I fought to focus as I asked, “Haylee, where are you?”

Cackling laughter erupted from the receiver, and then the caller hung up.

“Fuck you!” I screamed, though nobody was listening. I had been foolish enough to share my number with a commenter who had inquired about remaining anonymous. Now I was kicking myself for it.

My reaction had awakened my mother, who charged into my room and flipped on my overhead light. “Dharma, are you all right?”

“I’m fine, Mom,” I said, punching my pillow. “I just received a prank call.”

“We should change your number,” she declared.

“No!” I cried, clinging to my phone. “Haylee knows my number by heart. What if she tries to call?”

My mother glanced away, but not quickly enough to hide her doubtful expression.

I glanced at the clock. “It’s not even been forty-eight hours. She could walk through that door at any time.”

My mother sat on the edge of my bed and reached for my hand. I attempted to retreat, knowing that she was preparing herself to tell me something unpleasant, but my mother held firm.

“They found something during our search,” she began. “Do you remember that pentagram necklace Haylee purchased for the concert? We found it in the woods, buried beneath some pine needles.”

“So?” I countered stubbornly. “Plenty of kids were wearing pentagram pendants at the concert.”

“I identified it myself,” my mother informed me. “It looked exactly like Haylee’s.”

“That doesn’t mean anything!” I persisted. “She may have gotten lost and left it behind to be found just in case someone came along looking for her. It’s something that she would have done. We practically binged true-crime dramas our freshman year.”

“Perhaps,” my mother agreed, though she sounded unconvinced, and before I could argue she said, “It’s still early. You should get some rest.”

I was about to argue that I shouldn’t be resting, when the doorbell rang.

“Who could be at the door this early?” my mother wondered.

“Maybe they found Haylee!” I cried, unable to contain my excitement as I threw back my covers and scrambled to locate my slippers. My mother had left the room first, but I darted past her and ran down the stairs.

“Dharma, slow down,” my mother warned as she hurried to catch up with me.

I threw open the door and nearly whooped for joy when I saw it was Detective Dunn and another detective, Detective Finch. Before they had a chance to speak, I asked, “Did you find Haylee?”

The two detectives exchanged a look, then Detective Dunn reached out and gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “Not yet,” she said.

“Can we help you, detectives?” my mother asked as she wedged herself between me and them.

“We are here to speak with Dharma,” Detective Finch explained.

“It’s nearly five in the morning,” my mother protested. “Can this wait? You questioned Dharma yesterday, and if she had recalled anything else, she would have let you know.”

“We are not here to question her about Haylee,” Detective Dunn clarified. “We are here about Toby Conners.”

“Toby?” my mother and I asked in unison.

My mother released her tight grip on the door, inviting the detectives inside. “Has something happened to Toby?”

“We are sorry about the early hour,” Detective Dunn apologized. “We have been at the hospital all night—”

“Oh my god!” I exclaimed. “Is he all right?”

“He is stable,” Detective Dunn stated, and before I had a chance to interrupt her again, she asked, “Did Toby come see you yesterday?”

“Yes, he stopped by to see if I was all right,” I told her. “I can’t be sure of the time, but the sun was going down, and he wanted to start walking home before it set.”

Detective Finch checked his phone. “Sunset was around eight forty-five last night,” he muttered.

“What happened to Toby?” my mother asked. “And is it somehow related to Haylee’s disappearance?”

“He was the victim of a hit and run,” Detective Dunn offered. “He wasn’t discovered until midnight.”

“Dharma,” my mother said, wrapping her arms protectively around me, “I am so sorry.”

I was numb. It was as if I had shed all the tears I could possibly produce, and the well was now empty. I turned to my mother. “Can we go see him?”

Before my mother could permit it, Detective Dunn intervened. “He’s stable, but still in critical condition. I doubt the hospital will permit visitors.”

I covered my face with my hands to try to block out the detectives and the seemingly never-ending nightmare that my life had become.

“She may need a moment,” my mother offered.

“We just have one final question and then we will leave,” Detective Dunn promised. “Dharma, did Toby happen to tell you where he was going when he left?”

I lowered my hands and did my best to recall our conversation the night before. Finally, I shook my head. “I assumed he was going home.”

“Thank you, Dharma,” Detective Dunn said. “We will call you if we need more.”

“Thank you, Detective Dunn,” my mother offered kindly. “And good luck with your search. I hope you find whoever did it. There are a lot of kids in this neighborhood. I would hate for the same thing to happen to them.”

“I appreciate your cooperation, Dr. Dupree,” Detective Dunn offered respectfully as my mother closed the door.

My mother wrapped me in her arms to comfort me. “Maybe we should have told them about the phone calls you have been receiving.”

I shook my head. “They are just pranksters. Besides, the cops have their hands full.”

“Well, I think you should go upstairs and get some rest,” my mother suggested. “Leave your phone with me, and I’ll field the calls for a while.”

“But you should rest as well,” I pointed out.

“The sun will be up soon, and I need to get the house straightened up before people start arriving.”

“We are having guests?” I gaped at her. “At a time like this?”

“There has been a surge in volunteers, and the community center has become jam-packed, so I offered up our home as a meeting place for my search team.” She paused, then asked, “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, it’s a good thing,” I assured her. “You sit and rest. I’ll do the straightening up.”

I guided my mother to the kitchen and allowed her to sit while I made coffee.

“Last night, I went into Haylee’s room and noticed that her stuff is all packed up. Did you do that?” I inquired as I began to wipe down the counters.

“Yes. Her parents requested her things. I’ll be dropping them off at the police station when the search breaks for lunch.”

“They won’t even come by the house?” I asked, feeling outraged. “They have known us for years. I can’t believe they are treating us like this!”

“I’m hurt too,” my mother confessed, “but I’m not sure if I would react any differently if I were in their shoes.”

“You would at least be reasonable,” I affirmed.

“No, I wouldn’t,” she countered. “I would be ripping my hair out. Don’t be angry with them. You couldn’t possibly understand what they are going through. When people are terrified, they are prone to lashing out. Their feelings are completely justified.”

“They’ll come around once Haylee is found,” I asserted. “She’ll reason with them.”

My mother stood, again like she was trying to hide the doubt from her face. “If I’m going to help with the search, I need to get moving.”

“I should get dressed as well,” I said, following her. “Then I’m going to check the chat to see if any good tips have come in.”

“I’m not sure if that chat was a good idea,” my mother remarked as we began up the stairs. “I know it was started with good intentions, but it has brought you nothing but grief.”

“I know a lot of negative things have come from it, but it will be worth it if we get just one useful tip,” I countered.

I skipped my shower and hurried to dress, choosing baggy sweats, since I was being forced to remain behind once again.

Just as my mother emerged from the bathroom, patting her hair dry with a towel, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” I insisted, already making my way to the stairs. “I’ll serve everyone refreshments while you finish getting ready.”

Without waiting for a response, I trotted down the stairs and opened the front door for the shadowy figures on the other side of the glass.

I wasn’t sure who I expected to find on the other side, but I was still stunned when I was greeted by a stout middle-aged couple, as well as Maggie and Justin’s ex, Sienna.

Before I had a chance to recover, the stout man’s hand shot out. “You must be Dharma,” he gushed warmly. “I’m Sid, and this is my wife, Patty.”

Numbly, I accepted Sid’s outstretched palm and exchanged a polite nod with Patty before I turned my attention to Maggie and Sienna.

My eyes darted nervously between the two familiar faces. I attempted to address them, and though my lips were moving, I couldn’t seem to utter a sound.

“Dharma,” Maggie prompted, “are you going to let us inside, or are you going to stand gaping like a fish out of water?”

I flushed as I stepped aside and opened the door wide to receive them. “Of course,” I muttered. “Please, come in.”

Once everybody was inside, I announced, “My mother will be down soon. Why don’t you guys come into the kitchen and have some refreshments while you wait?”

I led the group to the kitchen. After serving them drinks, I turned, hoping to make a quick exit, but Maggie stopped me.

“Dharma, would you be a dear and point me in the direction of the ladies’ room?”

I glanced over my shoulder, careful to avoid Sienna’s curious gaze as I said, “Sure, Maggie. It’s right through the den.”

I escorted Maggie to the den and motioned to the bathroom. “Your throne awaits, my lady,” I joked lightly.

“Thank you, Dharma,” Maggie replied, and though she didn’t laugh, she was kind enough to grin at my antics.

As the bathroom door closed behind Maggie, I turned to exit the den, intending on disappearing upstairs to recover my laptop, but my plans were thwarted when I found myself face to face with Sienna.

“Oh!” I gasped, taking a step back.

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” she apologized as she stepped forward to bridge the gap between us. “I saw you at the concert the other night and thought I would introduce myself,” she explained, offering me her hand. “I’m Sienna, but you probably already know that.”

I thought about feigning innocence, but Sienna’s intelligent gaze stopped me. “I’m Dharma,” I said, taking her proffered hand.

“I wanted to explain about the other night…,” she began as she released my hand.

I cut her off with a shake of my head. “You don’t owe me anything,” I assured her and stepped aside, signaling my intention to depart, but she seized me by my shoulders.

“Please, don’t go just yet,” she said. “I volunteered for this team because I was hoping to get a chance to warn you.”

There was no point in beating around the bush, so I asked, “Is this about Justin?”

She nodded and opened her mouth to speak, but I interrupted.

“What happened between you and Justin is no business of mine.”

Undeterred, Sienna held my gaze. “This isn’t some silly confrontation,” she spat. “I just wanted to warn you. Justin isn’t what he appears to be. He is ruthless, and nothing will stop him from getting what he wants.”

Her voice was firm, but as she spoke, her eyes began to mist. She averted her gaze so she could blink away the tears that threatened.

Though I had wanted to appear stoic, the pain in her eyes tugged at my heartstrings. I reached out and gave her a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. I already knew she had been pregnant, but now I had to wonder what else may have occurred.

“Sienna, did Justin do something to you?”

“Other than destroy my trust and self-worth?” Sienna snarked, then shook her head. “He didn’t hit me or anything.”

Before I had a chance to be relieved, she added, “But a man doesn’t need to raise his fist to be dangerous.” She reached out and grasped my hand. “Please, promise me you will be careful.”

Wordlessly, I nodded, but before I could press her for more details, Sienna’s eyes flicked over my shoulder.

“I better get back to the rest of the group,” she declared abruptly.

I reached out to stop her, but she dodged my advances and fled from the room.

I turned and found that Maggie was lingering behind me. I opened my mouth to grill Maggie about how much she had overheard, but she leaned in and gave me a comforting hug.

Stunned by her sudden display of emotion, I could only stand there while she gave my shoulders a comforting squeeze.

As she pulled away, she paused to whisper in my ear. “Be a gazelle.”