“Nowhere,” Wendy answered quickly, smoothing her hands through her wet hair. “I just made plans to meet up with Jordan at the hospital, you know, after her shift.” Another lie. The more she told, the easier it got.

“This is more important,” he told her. He waved his hand dismissively. “Text her and tell her you’re going to be late. I can drop you off at the hospital after.” Mr. Darling snatched his keys from the kitchen table and started for the door. “Let’s go.”

Wendy gave a nod and pulled out her phone, pretending to text Jordan as she followed him out the door. She’d lied herself into a corner. She wanted to see Peter, and she especially didn’t want to leave him waiting for her, but what choice did she have? This wasn’t really something she could talk her way out of.

In the car, Wendy tried to look for Peter as they drove down the street, but there was no sign of him. How was she going to find him when she got back? She’d have to wait at the hospital until her mom got off work to get a ride home. It wasn’t like he had a cell phone she could call him on, and there was no way she was going to just wander around the woods calling his name.

But for now she had more pressing matters to deal with. Like what Detective James wanted to ask her. Were they going to accuse her of having something to do with Alex’s disappearance? Was she a suspect? Was Peter?

Her mind grew frantic. She tried to distract herself by focusing on the quiet rhythm of music flowing out of the speakers. Her dad only ever listened to classic rock.

The police station was located on a main road that paralleled the shore. The ocean funneled into a large bay that eventually turned into the Columbia River. With her window rolled down, the ocean breeze felt cool in the heat of the midday sun. The air smelled like salt water. Large ships laden with crates trudged along, and behind them she could make out the blue mountains of Washington across the river.

Her father didn’t say anything, so Wendy didn’t, either. The awkward silence stretched on until they pulled up to the old brick building.

“Let’s go,” Mr. Darling said, trying to loosen his tie again as he got out of the car. Wendy followed.

As they walked into the lobby, Wendy tried to shrink behind her father. She shivered and fidgeted with the strap of her bag. She didn’t like being back here. It felt like walking into a cemetery crowded with ghosts.