I picked up the phone on the first ring, expecting it to be the office telling me Willow was sick and to come pick her up. But when I heard the nasally voice of Principal McConnell, my heart sunk.

“I’m calling to let you know that Willow seems to have left after first period. She was present in homeroom, then . . . well, vanished.”

“Vanished? What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said, Mrs. Thompson. No one has seen her since then, and she wasn’t checked out through the office.” Principal McConnell sounded more irritated than concerned as her words snapped at me. “Did you come to pick her up and forget to sign her out?”

My heart thumped frantically. It wasn’t like Willow, who prided herself on perfect attendance each quarter, to play hooky.

“No, we didn’t pick her up. Did you check the bathrooms, locker rooms, places like that?”

“Of course, Mrs. Thompson. No one has seen her. And no one saw her leave.”

“Did you ask her friends? Maybe they know where she might have gone.”

“We spoke with all of her friends, but no one knows anything. And no other kids have gone missing, which means she went on her own. Her bag and books are still in her locker, though, which is odd. I imagine she would have taken them with her if she went home.”

“And you searched the entire school premises for her?”

Her umbrage was totally undisguised now. “Yes, Mrs. Thompson, when we realized she was missing that was the first thing we did—before calling you.”

“Thanks for letting me know, Principal McConnell. I’ll figure it out. And if you hear anything more, please let me know right away.”

“Absolutely, Mrs. Thompson. We hope to see Willow back in school tomorrow.”

As I hung up, I teetered between immobilizing fear and resolute action. I didn’t have time to worry; I needed to find her. Figure out where she went. It was a matter of deduction. She’d never leave school unless it was for something important. The only things that mattered were her friends, who were all accounted for, lacrosse, and Ryan.

Then it clicked, like a lock cracking open.

I wondered if this had anything to do with my conversation with Ryan two nights ago. It’s possible Willow heard more than she let on, or maybe Ryan had told her about it. That was the more likely scenario, since they were as thick as thieves; it didn’t surprise me that Ryan would confide in her. I decided to call him on his cell phone to see if he knew anything about Willow’s disappearing act.

I dialed his number, listening to it ring once, twice, three times, then again before the call dropped me into his voicemail.

“Ry, honey, it’s Mom. Call me the moment you get this. It’s about Willow and it’s urgent.”