Sister, Missing Read Online Free Page B

focusing on Madison applied just as much to me. I couldn’t afford to break down. I was the strongest person here, and I had to stay strong for my little sister.
    Rick arrived a few minutes later. Annie, who’d been hovering by the door, flung herself into his arms.
    ‘Don’t worry, pet,’ he said, stroking her hair. ‘I’m here now. We’ll get Madison back. I was in security for fifteen years, remember?’
    ‘But it’s only Lauren they want to deal with,’ Annie explained shakily.
    ‘So you said.’ Rick sat her down at the kitchen table. He looked concerned. ‘What’s that about, then?’
    ‘I think the kidnapper might be the woman who tried to kill me two years ago,’ I said. ‘Sonia Holtwood.’
    ‘Who?’ Rick asked.
    Annie explained the history and Rick’s expression of concern deepened. As Annie spoke, I found myself feeling annoyed with her again. She should have told me months ago about Sonia
Holtwood being free. On the other hand, I couldn’t really blame Annie. She was just doing what Mum and Dad told her. When were they going to realise they didn’t have to treat me like a
little kid any more?
    ‘What I don’t understand is why Sonia Holtwood would have taken the little one,’ Rick said, looking from me to Annie. ‘What’s the point?’
    Annie shook her head despairingly.
    ‘I think it’s got something to do with getting back at me, but . . . but I don’t know what exactly,’ I said.
    Rick nodded slowly. ‘Well, one thing’s for sure,’ he said. ‘I’m not letting you go to Sandcove Chine alone. I’ll hang back so I can’t be seen, but
I’m definitely going to be right there behind you.’
    ‘Oh, Rick, thank you,’ Annie gasped.
    He looked at me. ‘Is that OK with you, Lauren?’
    ‘Hey, excuse me, but are you seriously not calling the police?’ Shelby’s voice echoed across the hallway.
    We turned round. She was standing at the bottom of the stairs, her fists clenched and resting on her hips.
    ‘Oh, sweetie, you don’t understand . . .’ Annie began.
    ‘Don’t patronise me,’ Shelby snapped. ‘Why aren’t we calling the cops, Mom?’
    ‘Because the kidnapper said she’d kill Madison if we did that,’ I said, trying to keep my temper. ‘And if she really is Sonia Holtwood then she definitely
isn’t bluffing. She’s capable of murder.’
    Shelby turned to Annie. ‘Mom, are you seriously going to listen to her instead of me?’
    I dug my fingers into my palms, desperately trying not to lose control.
    ‘This isn’t a popularity contest, Shelby,’ I insisted. ‘The point is that Holtwood is a killer.’
    Annie turned helplessly to Rick. ‘What do you think?’
    ‘Why are you asking him?’ Shelby snapped.
    We all looked at Rick. A moment passed, then he cleared his throat.
    ‘From what I understand of the situation – and when I worked in security I heard about quite a few kidnap cases –’ he said slowly, ‘it makes sense for Lauren to at
least go to Sandcove Chine. It’s a public place and this is the middle of the day. I’m sure the kidnappers only want to draw her outside to make sure she’s not being trailed by
the police. She can get proof Madison’s alive and find out what the deal is . . . I’ll be right there with her, so . . .’
    Shelby swore and stomped upstairs again.
    Annie looked distraught but, to be honest, I was glad Shelby had gone. She was a nightmare and her presence only ever made things worse.
    Even at 1.15 pm, the ravine at Sandcove Chine was cool and shady. The heat of the day was still fierce, but out of the sun there was a chilly breeze. As I walked, shivering, I
hugged my jacket round my chest. Ahead of me, the Japanese pond glinted in the sunlight. A few elderly couples were strolling past. Others sat on the benches opposite the water.
    Mum had sent me another text just a couple of minutes before, asking how my revision had gone today. Up to that point I’d been seriously considering calling her at Disney