The Disappearance of Katie Wren Read Online Free Page B

for a moment.
    “Katie?”
    “It's just me and I'm fine,” she groans, but there's now absolutely no doubt that something is very wrong. “Mum, I think I wanna get off the line now.”
    Bringing up my web browser, I start searching for trains to London. It's getting late now, and my hands are trembling as I try to find a service that leaves tonight. The last thing I want is to have to wait until tomorrow morning.
    “I'm going to book a train,” I stammer, “and -”
    “I have to go!” Katie gasps suddenly. “I'm fine, though. Don't come. I'm okay, Mum, I promise. I have to go now. Bye!”
    “Wait!” I hiss. “Katie, I'm going to come to your apartment. Do you understand? I'm going to come and check on you!”
    I wait.
    “I don't know,” she says finally. “No, I don't know. I don't -”
    Suddenly the call ends, and I try several times to reconnect, without any success.
    After a few more minutes, I manage to book myself onto a flight that leaves the local station at seven in the morning. That's longer than I'd like to wait, but I can't do much better and I'll head to the station immediately. Even if I have to wait overnight, I can't possibly sit around here at home while my daughter is clearly in trouble.
    I try one more time to call Katie, and then finally I realize that I can't delay any longer. After searching for the number online, I call the local police in London.

Chapter Six
    The Sixth Call
     
    Just as I'm heading to the door with a hastily-packed suitcase, I hear my laptop beeping again. I almost run straight out to the bus stop, figuring that there can't be anyone important trying to reach me via Skype at such a late hour, but at the last moment I hurry over and look at the screen.
    Katie.
    Katie's trying to call!
    “Katie!” I stammer, hastily hitting the button to accept. “Katie, what -”
    Suddenly the screen fills with a shot of my daughter's sobbing face. She's leaning so close to the camera, I can barely see anything of the rest of the room, but a moment later I spot a dark shape moving behind her.
    “Mum!” she whimpers. “Mum, I don't know -”
    As suddenly as it appeared, the image goes blank and the call is over. I try frantically to reconnect, but with no success, and it's clear that she's gone again.
    “I'm coming!” I whisper, trying not to panic as I turn and hurry to my suitcase. “It's okay! I'm coming to find you!”

Chapter Seven
    Arrival
     
    As I hand some money to the driver and climb out of the taxi, I see that there's no sign of a police car outside the apartment building. I spoke to a man from the local police force on the phone last night, and again this morning. He said someone would drop by to check on Katie, but he clearly didn't take me seriously, and I doubt very much that they've sent anyone yet.
    As the taxi drives away, I step toward the building's front door and look up at the windows above. My little girl is in here somewhere, and I have to make sure she's okay.
     
    ***
     
    As soon as I get to the top of the stairwell, I see to my horror that the door to apartment 2 has been left ajar. Stepping closer, I can already see that the interior is dark, and that there appear to be clothes strewn across the floor. When I push the door open, I find that Katie's backpack has been left jammed in the way, and I have to shove the door a couple of times. Now, as I step inside, I realize there's a foul smell in here, and flies are buzzing through the air.
    “Katie?” I call out, trying not to panic. “It's me! Katie, are you here?”
    A fly momentarily lands on my face, and I brush it away as I step across the gloomy hallway. More flies fill the air, and a moment later I see why. Old plates are piled high on a desk in the corner, with rotten food having apparently been left out for several days now. Some of the food has slipped down to the floor, congealing in a foul, semi-liquid puddle that looks to be slowly soaking into the carpet. There's even something dark,