I stared down at the rock with fascination. It may just be a rock, but something about it held my attention. I wondered who had taken such care to chisel it into a perfect heart.

  “Keep it if you want. I was just going to throw it out back.”

  “Thanks.” I traced the edges. I didn’t know if there was any point to taking it but felt compelled to do so. At the very least, it was pretty.

  “Other than a few more photos, some letters, and the odd police report, there isn’t really much to go on,” she said. “That’s why I want to talk to town members who were around when the girls disappeared—to see what they know.”

  “Oh, right . . . I guess I should have read more of the flyer. I wasn’t born back then,” I said. “I don’t think I can really help you.”

  “That’s all right,” she said. “I’m getting pretty used to dead-ends in this case. Besides, I always love having visitors to talk to, gives me an excuse to take a break every once in a while. In all honesty, apart from getting coffee and feeding my cats, I pretty much live at this desk 24/7. And who knows, maybe this is meant to be, and you’ll crack the case.”

  She said the last part with a soft chuckle.

  I looked back at the picture. They smiled brightly up at me, their eyes crinkling at the corners. A strange sense of déjà vu hit me. I didn’t think it was just about the tattoos. There was something in their eyes that felt familiar.

  Addie was digging through a box on the floor next to her chair. “I’ve got some more photos around here somewhere . . . Ah yes, here.” She passed over a stack of photos; school portraits and candid shots of seven girls with their families. Addie had freckles climbing up her arm, popping against her fair skin.

  “Doesn’t anyone know what happened to them?” I asked.

  “Someone must,” Addie said. “A lot of people blamed it on some trucker from the next town over named Ed, but there was no concrete evidence, so it’s still an open case.”

  “You don’t think he did it?”

  “I don’t,” she said. “Other than the fact that there’s only circumstantial evidence against him—I actually interviewed him for my book. He looks tough, but I believe he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had the misfortune of driving through town the night of the disappearance, that’s all. The man’s one hundred and fifty pounds soaking wet. I find it hard to believe he could overpower seven girls.”

  She watched me carefully while I glanced back down at the photos. “If you don’t mind me asking, why did you come see me? Not that I’m complaining, but it clearly doesn’t seem like you’re that familiar with what I’m doing here.”

  I wasn’t sure how to answer that. I debated telling her about the girls. I had already wasted enough of her time, and she had filled my head with even more questions. I needed to sort through some of it before I talked to anyone.

  “Um, I was just curious.” I shrugged.

  It seemed like she was about to say something else to me when a knock sprung on the door.

  I stood up, flustered. “Oh, sorry—that must be your appointment.”

  “Well, if you have any more questions or if you find out anything you think might be relevant, please let me know,” she said.

  “Yeah, sure.” I smiled politely.

  “Come in!” she shouted at the door, startling me. She had a soft voice, but she certainly had some lungs on her.

  Mr. Delusie, my old history teacher, walked in carrying a stack of old newspapers. I said hello and paused in the hallway to eavesdrop on what they talked about, but he seemed to know about as much as I did at this point. He went to school with the girls, although he was a few years ahead of them. Apart from where he was when the news broke, he wasn’t very helpful. He spoke with confidence, like he was breaking the case wide open while Addie tried to press him for more information.

  It seemed like no one knew many details about them. All we had was a vague story.

  When I stepped outside, my mind swirled. There were so many coincidences, it had to mean something. It reminded me of my senior year algebra exam. I couldn’t make sense of all the diagrams and numbers, but they had to work together somehow. I walked from Addie’s house back to the main street and decided to stop in the only bookstore in town. Either I could find some more information about the Sunshine Girls there, or it would, at least, be a good excuse to pick up the new thriller I had been wanting. Either way, it was the only thing I could think to do.

  The small shop was originally built in the mid-nineteenth century. It was the old post office. As such, it boasted old stone walls and tall ceilings and an antique bronze, sealed-up mail slot sitting by the front door. A little plaque by the door designated it as a historic building, like most buildings downtown. New development wasn’t exactly something we were known for.

  Sam, the shop’s owner, greeted me. “Hey, Alana.” He was not only one of the more successful small business owners in town, but he and his husband, Ian, also organized our pride parade each year. What was once a small gathering had turned into one of the biggest annual events in the area. When Jamie and Naomi started dating, Naomi would go there to talk with Ian before telling her parents; they were sort of every closeted kid’s hero.

  Sam was tall and thin, with a thick mustache and even thicker eyebrows. His hair had started graying years prior, looking almost white.

  “Hey,” I said. “Is Sophie around today?”

  Sophie, Sam, and Ian’s daughter, usually hung around the shop reading in one corner or another. She was only thirteen, but we always got along really well. She was smarter and way more mature than I was at her age.

  “She’s at her piano lesson,” he said. “How are your folks?”

  “They’re good,” I said. “Dad’s busy with work as usual, and Mom’s garden is looking good this year.”

  “They must be happy to have you home for the summer,” he said. “Your dad always stops in and brags about how great you’re doing in school.”

  “Well, that’s embarrassing,” I said.

  “It’s just what parents do,” he said. “You’ll understand one day. Are you looking for something special today?”

  “Well, I was wondering if you had anything on local history,” I said. “Something about big events that happened here or local crime, maybe?”

  “Local crime?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I wanted to look into an old mystery,” I said. “Have you ever heard of the Sunshine Girls? They disappeared from town in the nineties.”

  “Sunshine Girls.” He said the words like they were foreign, but his eyes flicked away from me. “I haven’t thought about them in years.”

  “You knew them?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “Not really. I was away doing my masters when all that happened. Ian taught them, though I remember him calling me in tears when the news broke.”

  “Do you think I could ask him some questions?” I asked quickly.

  He shook his head again—this time, a little more forcefully. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. He doesn’t like to talk about them much. Best to just leave it alone.”

  I tried to hide my disappointment from my face. “You’re sure he wouldn’t be willing to just answer a few questions? I promise to be sensitive.”

  “Alana,” he said. “Some things are best left in the past.”

  His tone told me not to push it.

  “Well, are there any books that might be able to help? Anything on local history?”

  “Well, there’s not much.” He grunted as he stood. He led me to the history section just past the nook where fiction met nonfiction. At the very bottom was a small handmade sign titled “Markie Books.” There were all of five books there.

  “That’s it, I’m afraid,” he said. “Let me know if you have any questions.”

  “Thanks,” I said, eyeing the meager inventory.

  Kneeling down, I pulled out the first book. Markie Shipwrecks. The next was on our agricultural achievements, followed by a very thin book on local inventions. There was also a cookbook written by a local author with little stories before each recipe about where they had learned them. The last was a novel about a werewolf by a girl I recognized from middle school. All of them were totally useless to me.

  Placing the last book back on the shelf, I thought back to what Addie had said to me. So far, it seemed like she was right: people were reluctant to talk about what had happened. I was determined to find out, however, knowing more about what had happened in the past would help me figure out what was going on now. Hopefully.

  Six

  “Do you think this shirt is too low-cut for dinner?” Jamie asked me.

  We were getting ready for dinner at Eric’s in her bedroom. Jamie’s room was always a total mess. Not in a gross-old-food-and-smelly way, but in a clothes-and-makeup-exploded-everywhere kind of way. I was sitting on her bed among all her rejected outfits. Her pug, Cookie, lounged on a discarded red mini dress, licking her privates.

  It had been a long few days. I had searched every corner of the internet for more information on the Sunshine Girls to no avail. Apart from a few whispers in true crime forums, nothing was out there. It was like the town had purposefully kept it a secret from the rest of the world. I was beginning to get very frustrated.

  “It’s perfect,” I said. “If you sit across from Eric, he won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.”

  She looked down at her ample cleavage. “Good. You should wear my black dress, the one with the spaghetti straps.”

  I gestured down at my jeans. “I thought I would just wear this . . .”

  “No way! Show off those curves,” she insisted, picking out earrings for me. “You can’t go there looking like you just woke up.”

  “I’m not the one trying to land a date,” I argued.

  She rolled her eyes. “Not for any guy—so Nina is totally intimidated by you.”

  “Do you ever get tired of these schemes?” I asked as I got changed. “I’m already exhausted.”

  “Not really,” she said. “There’s nothing good to watch until the new season of Ru Paul’s Drag Race comes out.”

  “Hey, Ben said something about Eric,” I said. I also wanted to tell her about Addie. I wanted to keep as much weirdness to myself as possible. At least until I knew if something was worth telling. “He doesn’t trust him, and he thinks that we should be careful.”

  “Ben?” she asked. “Isn’t he coming tonight?”

  “Yeah, reluctantly,” I said. “But he said that Eric gave him the creeps. He wants us to stay away from him.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said simply. “But I don’t totally disagree with him. I still think he’s too perfect. Maybe just be careful, okay? I mean, we really don’t know a lot about him.”

  She slipped a silver bracelet onto my wrist. “Ben doesn’t really like anyone except you, your parents, and me by association. I think we should give Eric a chance, see what he’s like.”

  “Just as long as you promise to be careful,” I said.

  “Don’t be so paranoid,” she said. “It’s going to be fun.”

  “That’s what you said about Eli’s party,” I said.

  “And other than running into Nina and Rob, was I wrong?” she asked.

  “Fine,” I said. “I mean, yes, it was fun, but just promise anyway.”

  “I promise.” She squeezed my shoulders. “As long as you promise to take that stick out of your butt.”

  I rolled my eyes at her. In all honesty, I did feel uptight, but no matter how much I wanted to relax, I just couldn’t. It felt like something tugged on my sleeve, refusing to let me go. Between my suspicion of the tattooed girls and their connection with Eric to what Addie had told me about the Sunshine Girls, I felt constantly on edge.

  I stepped in front of Jamie’s mirror and assessed the damage. The dress was shorter than I was used to, but it was pretty cute. I pulled the silver necklace out from underneath and let it lay on top, wondering for the millionth time where it had come from. Running my finger over the bee, I put on a fake smile and turned to Jamie, ready to go.

  J

  “How’s my hair?” Jamie asked as we approached the door to the house.

  “Perfect,” I promised.

  She had really outdone herself. Personally, my hair was already starting to flatten, and the humid weather and nerves made me sweat. I lifted my arms slightly to air out my pits.

  Eric answered the door, dressed in dark jeans and a white button-down shirt. He looked pretty amazing. My cheeks went flush with heat as I took him in while Jamie practically glowed beside me.

  “Ladies, welcome,” he smiled, ushering us in. His gaze lingered on me, and a small smile appeared on my lips. I forced it to disappear, hoping Jamie hadn’t noticed.

  Jamie beamed again as she passed the threshold into the house, and he gave her a hug.

  He hugged me next, and pulling away, I could see Ben was already there. He was dressed in a blue fitted button-down shirt, already looking uncomfortable. He stood in the front sitting room, a beer in his left hand, as he adjusted his collar with his right.

  “Hey.” I walked over to him, feeling uneasy about the night ahead of us. In the end, I was glad he was there, even if he wanted to be anywhere else. “Nice shirt.”

  “Hi,” he said unenthusiastically. “Shut up.”

  “So, we’re just waiting on Nina and Rob and then we can sit down to eat,” Eric announced, inviting us into the living room. The house was much more livable since last time but still not fully furnished. The living room had a big gray couch and a few matching armchairs sitting around a glass coffee table. The walls were still bare, but a few plants were scattered, giving it a homier feel.

  “Are your other friends not coming?” I asked Eric. “The girls you used to tutor?”

  “No,” he said. “Unfortunately, they can’t make it tonight. They’re out of town with some other friends.”

  “That’s too bad,” I said. I meant it. I had hoped they would be here so I could figure out more about them and those tattoos.

  We sat, Jamie claiming the spot on the couch with me, while Ben took one of the chairs. Eric had set out some cheese and appetizers on the table; he excused himself to pour some drinks. Jamie offered to help, jumping up as quickly as she had sat.

  When they were gone, I turned to Ben. “What do you think so far?”

  He was leaning back on the chair. “Ask me at the end of the night.”

  “Why are you so grumpy?” I asked. “It’s like you’re going out of your way to be in a bad mood.”

  “I am not,” he said.

  “Are too,” I said.

  “Don’t be immature,” he said. “I’m being perfectly pleasant.”

  “Well, you don’t seem to have an open mind,” I said. “What is it about him that bugs you so much?”

  I was only partially annoyed at his attitude. I wanted to know what he was picking up on, so I could decide how I felt.

  “I told you. There’s something I don’t trust about him,” he said. “He’s just too . . .”

  “Perfect?” I guessed. I hadn’t meant it as a compliment. Yes, he was handsome and charming, but it still felt inauthentic to me, like he was hiding something just below the surface.

  He gave me a strange look.

  “What did you guys talk about before we arrived?” I asked.

  “He just introduced himself and asked about the town,” he said. “He had a lot of questions.”

  “Questions about what?” I asked eagerly.

  “Just about Markie,” he said. “And you guys.”

  “Fascinating.” I huffed in frustration. It wasn’t his fault. It’s not like I could have expected him to spill the beans to Ben unprompted.

  He rolled his eyes at me. “Have I told you lately that you’re a smart ass?”

  “I’m aware.”

  Before he could answer, Eric and Jamie returned with our drinks.

  “Here you go.” He handed me a glass of wine.

  “Thanks.” I glanced between him and Jamie. Her mood had visibly turned sour. She stared down at her feet, her eyebrows furrowing. I could tell she was upset about something and wondered what could have happened in that short trip to the kitchen to put her in a sour mood. Just a few minutes before, she was ecstatic to be there. Whatever it was would just have to wait until I could speak with her alone.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  Eric smiled, seemingly oblivious to Jamie’s change in mood. “That must be Nina and Rob.”

  He went to open the door, leaving us alone.

  I moved closer to Jamie and whispered, “You okay?”

  She just nodded and took a sip of her wine. I thought about pushing it but decided it wasn’t the best time. I would get the chance to talk to her later.

  Eric came back with Nina and Rob.

  If Nina felt at all out of place, she hid it well. “Hi, guys! This house is so pretty.”

  “Hi.” Rob waved. He smiled but eyed the group nervously. I hadn’t thought about how uncomfortable this evening would be for him. If Nina and I didn’t make things weird, Jamie and Ben hated his guts, so that would be rough. I instantly felt guilty for dragging him into this. If I hadn’t gone along with Jamie’s stupid plan, then Nina wouldn’t have inserted them into this evening.

  For an uncomfortable moment, they hovered in the doorway. Rob stood behind Nina, like he was scared to be seen.

  “Should we move to the table?” Eric suggested.

 

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