She seems to get better each time she talks about it, Mrs. Pettus said. I think as more time passes, she starts to understand that her best friend is not necessarily dead. I think the more the idea that she might simply be missing sinks in, she wants to be of more help.

That being said, Mr. Pettus added, I would greatly appreciate it if you kept the questions brief and as hopeful as possible. Make no mistake…we wont interfere as you question her, but if we hear anything at all that seems to upset her, your time with our daughter is over.

Thats more than fair, Kate said. And you have my word that we will tread carefully.

Mr. Pettus nodded and finally opened the front door for them. When they stepped inside, Kate saw Anne Pettus right away. She was sitting on the couch with her hands clasped between her knees. Like her mother, she looked tired and worn out. It then occurred to Kate that teenage girls tended to bond rather strongly with their best friends. She was unable to imagine the kind of emotions this young girl must be going through.

Anne, Mrs. Pettus said. These are the agents we told you were coming. Are you still okay with speaking to them?

Yes, Mom. Im fine.

Both parents gave Kate and DeMarco a little nod as they sat down on either side of their daughter. Kate noticed that Anne didnt start to truly look uncomfortable until her parents flanked her.

Anne, Kate said, we will keep this quick. Weve been filled in on everything youve already told the police, so we wont ask you to repeat all of those things again. Well, with one exception. Id like to know about the shopping trip you and Mercy took out to Harrisonburg. Mercy purchased several travel-sized things, right?

Yeah. I thought it was weird. She just said she was running out of that stuff at home. Toothpaste, a small toothbrush, deodorant, things like that. I asked why she purchased them and not her parents but she sort of brushed it off.

Do you feel she was happy at home?

Yeah. But I mean…shes fifteen. She loves her parents but hates it around here. Shes been talking about moving away from Deton ever since we were ten years old.

Any idea why? DeMarco asked.

Its boring, Anne said. She looked over at her parents apologetically. I mean, Im a just a bit older than Mercy; Im sixteen and have a license and she and I go here and there sometimes. Shopping. The movies. But you have to drive like an hour to do any of that stuff. Deton is dead.

Do you know where she wanted to move?

Palm Springs, Anne said with a laugh. She saw some show where people were partying in Palm Springs and thought it was pretty.

Did she have any particular college she had her eye on?