Her Last Day (Jessie Cole #1)(47)

“He looked angry. Was he mad at you?”

Jessie lifted her arms in frustration. “I have no idea. But I’ve made the decision not to give up on Zee.”

“Yeah,” Olivia said. “I agree. I just hope she’s okay.”

“Me, too.”

Jessie was worn-out by the time she knocked on the front door of a one-story yellow house with a green roof and white shutters. Directly across the street, she saw Olivia talking to a woman with small kids clinging to her legs. They had been at it for two hours, showing the blown-up blurry image of a man’s reflection to anyone who would take a look. No luck so far, which was understandable, considering the picture they had to work with.

Like the last time she’d been in the neighborhood, many of Arlo’s neighbors were reluctant to talk, especially after they realized she was working for Arlo Gatley. His neighbors were wary of him. Arlo was odd, they would say. He drove too fast. He never waved hello as they drove by, and he was quick to call city officials to complain if they didn’t cut their lawns, and so on, and so on.

Most of the people she’d talked to so far knew Arlo and his daughter. They also knew Zee was missing but were convinced she’d simply run away. Although a few of the neighbors had made a halfhearted attempt to assure Jessie she would show up sooner rather than later, it was obvious by their tone of voice and mannerisms that they didn’t care one way or another.

When no one answered the door, Jessie turned to leave. Before she took more than two steps, she heard a quiet voice. It took her a second to realize someone was talking to her through a partially opened window.

“Are you Jessie Cole, the investigator everyone says is making the rounds?”

Jessie squinted her eyes but still couldn’t make out a shape. The voice definitely sounded female. “That’s me,” Jessie said. “I was hoping you could tell me if you recognize the man in this picture.” She held up the photo.

“Meet me at the gate to the side yard. I’ll be right there.”

Jessie took the long way around so she wouldn’t step on the grass. The gate creaked open, and she joined the woman on the other side. The woman looked to be in her late forties, with auburn hair and a friendly face.

“I’m Gina. Let’s see what you have there.”

Jessie handed her the photo and pointed out the person in the reflection of Zee’s sunglasses.

“My husband and I try to stay out of all the drama that goes on around here,” she said as she examined the photo.

Jessie said nothing.

Gina straightened and handed the picture back. “I don’t recognize him. I’m sorry.”

“What about Zee Gatley?” Jessie asked. “Before she went missing, did you ever see her pass by?”

“I work from home, so, yes, I see her walk by fairly often. I’d be surprised if there was even one person in the neighborhood who hadn’t seen Zee walking along the street at some point or another.”

“Have you ever seen her with anyone?”

Gina considered that for a moment. “No. My windows are usually open, and I do hear her talking to herself on occasion.” She frowned. “What’s wrong with her—do you know?”

“She has schizophrenia, which has caused her to suffer from a faulty perception of reality.”

“How sad. I’ve never talked to her, but I should have at least tried.” She shifted her weight from one side to the other. “I’m sure you’ve heard that Zee isn’t the first young woman to disappear from this area.”

“Nobody has mentioned anything,” Jessie said.

“Four years ago Beth Cordell, a sixteen-year-old girl who lived two doors down, went to get the mail and was never seen again. It was all over the news. There were search parties, all the usual events that happen when a child goes missing, but she was never found, and her parents have since moved away.”

Jessie wondered why Arlo hadn’t mentioned Beth Cordell’s name. “Is there anything else you think might be helpful for me to know?”

“Afraid that’s all I’ve got. I should go now, but I do hope you find her.”

Jessie thanked her before heading out through the gate. She jogged across the street. Olivia was no longer talking to the woman with the young kids, so she continued on down the road.

The names Zee Gatley and Beth Cordell swirled about in her mind as she picked up her pace, keeping an eye out for Olivia as she went along.

Two girls on the same block had gone missing.

Shivers raced up her spine.

A car drove slowly by. An old man in the back seat stared at her. His lips were moving. He was telling the driver to stop and let him out. The car made a left at the corner and disappeared.

She felt as if she were in The Twilight Zone.

A dog barked in the distance. Where was Olivia?

She spotted an open garage. There was a man fiddling around inside. “Excuse me,” Jessie called to him. “Did you happen to see anyone walk by here in the last five to ten minutes?”

“No. Sorry.”

“Are you sure?” Jessie asked, trying not to panic. “She’s fourteen, and she has brown hair.” Jessie touched her own hair. “Darker than mine.”

“I’m sure I didn’t see anyone,” he said with a tinge of annoyance. “But I did go inside for some water, and she could have snuck by without my noticing.”