“Apparently not. But they just spoke Monday night.” Regan then explained to Yaya that Daisy was concerned because Cleo didn’t tell her about any film or that she’d moved out. Hesitantly, Regan told Yaya about Cleo’s belongings being sold at the garage sale. May as well, Regan thought. It’s on the Internet.

“What did Cleo leave behind?” Yaya asked, her voice sharp.

“She left clothes in the washer and dryer, some odds and ends, and a collection of skulls …”

“Our skulls?” Yaya screamed.

“They’re your skulls?”

“Yes! Cleo’s father and I sent them in a trunk to the house. Cleo was going to bring them back to our storage unit in California. For years we’ve collected artifacts from around the world. Our dream is to open a museum. Cleo knows how much every item we collect means to us. She would never have willingly left that trunk behind! Never!” Yaya started to cry. “Cleo said in an e-mail that Frawley woman could be exasperating. She’s worse! She couldn’t wait to have her little sale and make a dime off my daughter. What happened to my Cleo?”

“I understand how upset you must be,” Regan said.

Cliff was standing close to Yaya, listening to the conversation, just as Nora was with Regan. He grabbed the phone.

“This is Cleo’s father. She said she left to do a movie? Maybe we should call that crazy agent of hers.”

“He was just here,” Regan said. “He doesn’t know where she is, either.”

“Call the police!” Yaya screamed.

“I’m a private investigator,” Regan said. “Cleo wouldn’t be classified as a missing person yet. You and Daisy both just tried Cleo’s cell phone in the last few hours. It’s not as if she hasn’t returned calls for days. You haven’t been waiting long to hear back from her.”

“I don’t care if it’s been five minutes or five days. Something’s wrong!” Yaya insisted. “I just know it. It’s not like Cleo to go off and not tell anyone. We’ll get back to the States as fast as we can. Please look for our daughter! Please find her! We’ll pay you whatever you want. It won’t be a wild-goose chase, I promise you!”

“Let me get your information,” Regan said as Nora dug a piece of paper and a pen out of her purse. Leaning on the washing machine, Regan took down the Paradises’ worldwide cell number and Cleo’s cell phone number and address. “What about her car?” Regan asked. “Do you have the make and model or possibly the license plate number?”

“Oh no, we don’t! It’s one of those big SUV type of things. She just got it to drive cross-country.” Yaya sounded on the verge of hysteria.