Sister, Missing Read Online Free Page A

somewhere else to get this “proof”?’
    ‘Maybe she’s worried we’ll record the call or something.’ I shrugged. ‘Maybe she’s going to follow me . . . make sure we haven’t contacted the
police.’ A shiver ran down my spine at the prospect.
    ‘OK.’ Annie frowned. ‘But why does she only want to deal with you?’
    I took a deep breath. I had to tell Annie what I suspected, even though it was going to sound ridiculous. ‘I think she knows me,’ I said. ‘I know it’s crazy, but I think
she might be Sonia Holtwood.’
    Annie’s face paled.
    ‘But Sonia Holtwood’s in prison,’ Shelby said from the doorway. She must have walked over while I was on the phone. I hadn’t noticed her standing there.
    ‘No, she’s not.’ Annie’s voice trembled as she spoke.
    ‘What d’you mean?’ I said.
    ‘Mom?’ Shelby twisted her hair round her fingers.
    ‘Sonia Holtwood was released from jail two months ago,’ Annie said. ‘There was an appeal . . . a technicality . . . They overturned her conviction. Everyone knows she’s
guilty, but she never admitted it and now she’s free.’
    I gasped. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
    ‘And me?’ Shelby added.
    ‘I spoke to your mother and father about it, Lauren. I . . . I actually wanted to say something, but they didn’t want to upset you,’ Annie said. ‘We were all going
through so much, what with losing Sam and . . .’
    ‘My exams . . .’ I said, imagining Mum’s concern.
    Fury rose in me – this was so typical of Mum and Dad, always assuming they knew what was best for me. How dare they keep such massive news from me. Sonia Holtwood had targeted me
directly before. I had a right to know if she was free. And now she had Madison.
    Before I could say anything, my phone rang again.
    ‘Is that her?’ Shelby asked.
    I glanced down. Jam calling.
    ‘No,’ I said, relief swamping my anger.
    ‘Hi,’ I said into the phone. I walked past both Annie and Shelby towards the stairs.
    ‘Hey, Lazerbrain.’ Jam’s voice – so familiar and so warm – brought a lump to my throat. ‘How’s it going at the seaside?’
    ‘Oh, Jam.’ I was close to tears as I told him everything that had happened.
    He listened carefully – Jam’s always been a good listener.
    ‘Man, that’s terrible—’ Just as Jam started to speak, the call dropped.
    I checked my signal. It was fine. I waited a second. Surely Jam would call back. Nothing happened. I tried ringing him, but the call went to voice mail.
    That was strange. Feeling doubly anxious now, I walked back into the kitchen only to discover Shelby and Annie both crying.
    ‘I hate Rick,’ Shelby wept. ‘He’s always interfering in our business and turning up when we don’t want him around.’
    ‘But I do want him around,’ Annie wailed. ‘He’s a good friend.’
    ‘To you .’ Shelby’s voice rose to a shriek. ‘What about me ? What about what I want?’
    ‘This situation isn’t about you, Shelby,’ I snapped. Honestly, what a selfish cow. ‘It’s about Madison and trying to get her back.’
    ‘Shut UP!’ Shelby yelled and stormed out of the room.
    We could hear her bawling all the way up the stairs, then the slam of her bedroom door.
    Annie shook her head and collapsed into a kitchen chair. I checked the time. As Annie had said, it would only take a few minutes to walk to Sandcove Chine. There were still twenty minutes until
I had to be there, but at least once I set off I’d be doing something. I guess I should have been scared at the thought of coming up against Sonia Holtwood but, right then, all I could think
about was saving Mo.
    ‘I’m going,’ I said.
    ‘No.’ Annie looked up at me, panic-stricken. ‘It’s too early. Rick will be here any minute. At least wait until he gets here.’
    ‘OK.’ I didn’t really want to wait, but Annie looked so desperate I felt I had to. My head was swirling with a million emotions, but I held all of them in. What I’d said
to Shelby about