Chapter 26
Chase didn’t see Isabella by her locker or in the hallway where he usually ran into her. It didn’t start to concern him, however, until he entered the lunchroom and saw Savannah sitting by herself. He walked up to her. “Where’s Isabella?”
She shrugged. “Sick, I guess. She’s not at school.”
A cold feeling started in his chest and spread through him. “She wasn’t sick last night.”
Savannah wiggled her eyebrows up and down. “Last night, huh?”
Chase shot her a look that said “so what” and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Well, if you hear from her, let me know, okay?”
“She can’t call.”
“I know.”
“She’ll be here tomorrow. Or you can check the gallery after school. Elenore might make her work, even if she’s sick.”
That was possible. “Good idea.”
Savannah grinned at him. “I’m full of them.”
He laughed and left her to eat so he could get his food. He sat at his usual table, looking at the empty spot where Isabella usually sat. He was already looking forward to sneaking over to the gallery after school.
Physics was lifeless without Isabella behind him. When the bell finally rang, he darted out of the building and hopped into his car. He drove straight to the gallery, but when he got there he saw Elenore through the front window, so he drove past without stopping.
He went home and fretted. Later that night, he went to the park to see if she’d be there, but the bench sat empty. He wrote a note and stuck it under the loose brick, telling her to leave an answer if she could.
The next day was Friday, and Chase was exhausted from tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep. He raced to school and waited down the hallway from Isabella’s locker so he could see when she arrived. People came and went, and Isabella didn’t show up. Eventually, the bell rang and he had to get to class.
He couldn’t concentrate. At lunch, he approached Savannah again. “Have you heard from her?”
Savannah turned to him, her eyes wide. “You haven’t heard? She ran away. The police called and talked to me and everything.”
“What?” His heart stopped for a second. “She wouldn’t run away.”
Savannah frowned. “She totally would. Her stepmother is terrible. And that’s what I told the police, too.”
“But she would have told me.” The cold feeling from yesterday came back. “Something else happened.”
“Like what? Her stepmother is awful, but she wouldn’t murder her or anything.”
“She just wouldn’t leave town without saying anything.”
Savannah picked up her fork. “She would if she didn’t want anyone knowing where she’d gone. They could tell Elenore.”
That was true. But he still couldn’t believe it. Something else happened. Elenore’s behavior was escalating. His stomach churned, and he didn’t feel hungry anymore. He sat and watched as everyone else ate.
Delilah came up to him. “Hi, Chase.” She grinned.
His gut clenched. “Where’s Isabella?”
Delilah’s face fell, and she frowned. “She ran away.”
He studied Delilah’s face. “Where did she run away to?”
She shook her head. “No one knows. She just packed her things and left.” Delilah put her hand on Chase’s shoulder. “I’m sorry she left you.”
He gripped the edge of the chair he sat in to keep himself from shaking her and yelling, “What really happened?” Instead, he just said, “Me, too.”
Delilah leaned over. “I’ll be around all weekend if you want to get together.”
He almost said no, but then realized he could find out more if he hung out with Delilah. “That sounds good,” he said, almost choking on the words. “Can I come over tonight?”
Surprise widened her eyes, and she nodded. “Yes! You can come over.”
Spending Friday night with Delilah sounded about as appealing as going to the dentist, but he forced a smile. “Great. I’ll see you around seven.”
Delilah bounced on her toes and grinned. “Perfect.” She ran to her sister, sitting one table away.
Chase rested his elbows on the laminate and put his face in his hands. He was going to have to use all his acting skills if this was going to go well.
Chase rang Isabella’s doorbell and readied himself for the role he’d have to play tonight. He wasn’t sure what he’d be able to find out, but he knew Isabella hadn’t run away. Snooping around her house was the best thing he could think of.
Delilah threw open the door. “Chase! You’re here.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. “I’m so glad you came over tonight.”
He gave her his movie-star smile. “Glad you invited me.”
She dragged him into the living room, where a large tray of meat, cheese, and crackers sat on the coffee table. “Want something to eat?”
“Sure.” He sat on the couch and picked up a piece of cheese. “Where’s your sister?”
“She and Mom went shopping.” Delilah batted her eyes at him. “We’re alone.”
Isabella had joked about being held captive in the attic. He wondered how much of a joke that really was. “You have a beautiful home. Can I have a tour?”
Delilah bounced up from the couch. “Yes. I’d love to show you.” She yanked on Chase’s arm. He stood and followed her around the first floor as she showed him each room. Chase could see why Isabella had fallen in love with the house. It was quite artistic in itself.
“And here’s the bathroom . . .” Delilah said, motioning. “I think that’s everything.”
He glanced toward the entrance, where the grand staircase was. “How about upstairs?”
She frowned. “You don’t want to see up there.”
He slid his arm around her waist. “Actually, I’d love to see the upstairs. It’s where your bedroom is, isn’t it?”
She giggled and nodded. “Okay. Come with me.” She took his hand and ran up, going past the first door. “Here’s my bedroom,” she said, pulling him into a room with purple walls. She had a purple duvet on her bed, purple curtains, and purple carpet.
He wondered how she slept at night. This room would creep him out.
“Nice,” he said, not knowing where to land his gaze. “What other rooms are up here?”
She pouted a little but led him out. She opened the door she’d skipped and brought him into Isabella’s room. He held in a gasp. Her bed was gone, as were her paintings. The closet was bare. There was no trace of her left. “This is the master bedroom,” Delilah said. “I’ll be moving in here soon. This room has the best view of the house.”
She tugged him over to the sliding-glass doors and brought him out onto the balcony. He looked over the city lights, trying to hide the emotion surging in him.
What had they done to Isabella? It was like they erased her.
“It’s beautiful,” he said, looking at Delilah while trying not to show his disgust on his face.
She giggled and fluffed her hair. “Come on. Let’s go watch a movie.”
He took her hand. “You haven’t shown me the rest of the upstairs.”
She waved her hand. “Not much more to see.”
“That’s okay. Show me anyway.”
Delilah sighed and took him to the hallway. The next door she opened and pointed. “This is Ava’s room.” The walls were pink. He nodded, but didn’t go in.
She pulled him past the next door, and he stopped. “What’s this door?” He reached out and turned the knob, but it was locked.
Delilah yanked him past the door. “That’s the attic. Nothing up there except for spiders.” She made a face.
An overwhelming urge to kick open the door came over Chase. That had to be where they were keeping Isabella, right? He clenched his teeth and stopped himself from saying something. Somehow, he had to find a way to prove she was being held up in the attic.
Delilah pointed to the next room. “Here’s my mother’s room.”
He peeked in to see a huge four-poster bed and dark, royal colors on the walls. “Nice.”
“And that’s it,” Delilah said. “That’s everything.”
Before he could say anything, she was pulling him down the hall toward the stairs. He had no choice. He had to follow her.
When they got back to the living room, he went to the wireless speaker system, getting an idea. “Do you want to dance? We didn’t get to dance much at the fall formal.”
She grinned. “Sure. I’ll go get my music.”
He grabbed her hand. “How about if I pair my phone and play one of my favorite slow songs?”
While she batted her eyes and nodded her head, he took out his phone. He wasn’t sure how he was going to get up to the attic to see if Isabella was up there, but he could send her a message. The first strums of the guitar started, and he cranked up the volume before taking Delilah in his arms.
Isabella lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. She had no idea if it was still Friday. Time seemed weird with no sunlight to measure it by. She’d eaten all the crusty bread Elenore had brought her earlier. Her stomach gnawed at her. Elenore said there’d be no more food until Isabella produced another painting.
Isabella defiantly refused to give in. At least for now. She was sure once the hunger grew to a painful roar she’d break down and comply.
By habit, she reached into her back pocket before realizing her mother’s photo was no longer there. She closed her eyes and tried to picture what her mother looked like. Panic flamed in her until she could see her clearly in her mind’s eye. She wondered how long it would take before the image would fade.
A tear slid out the corner of her eye and traveled down her temple to her hairline. She thought she’d cried them all. Guess there were still a few left. She wondered where Chase was right now. Was he sleeping? Or was he thinking about her?
A faint sound came from below, and she tried to pinpoint it. There had been no sounds coming through the floorboards. No quiet hum of the central air system. Nothing but aggravating silence. This new sound, though faint, reminded her of something.
She sat up straight, her heart pounding. Music. It was “Yesterday,” by the Beatles.
Chase was downstairs!
She ran to the door and pounded, screaming as loud as she could. “Chase! I’m up here!”
The faint sound of the music continued, and she stopped yelling. If she could hear the music, it had to be very loud. He wouldn’t hear her. She waited until the song ended, then began pounding again. “I’m up here!” she screamed.
She continued to pummel the door and yell as loud as she could until her voice grew hoarse. No one came. She collapsed back onto the blanket, her heart racing.
Maybe Chase couldn’t come rescue her, but he knew she was here. He had to. The song was for her.
She lay back down on the blanket, a new sense of hope rising in her chest.