‘However, she would never voluntarily be gone this long without posting something on her Instagram or Snapchat accounts or answering her phone – it’s gone straight to voicemail every time I’ve called which means Rach let her phone die, or she turned it off, something she never does. To be frank, Detectives, I love my twin, but anyone can recognize she’s an attention-whore.’

This time, Mrs. Otis couldn’t be ignored. ‘Nicholas Owen Otis! That is hardly an appropriate way to speak of your sister. We are Christians,’ she hissed.

Nick twisted so his body was angled toward her. ‘Are we though, Mother?’

An outraged gasp preceded her glare as she repeated, ‘It is inappropriate, and I won’t tolerate you speaking this way!’

Nick matched her cold glare with one of his own. ‘Nor is it appropriate, Mother, to pretend your daughter isn’t missing, merely for the sake of having to set aside some of your social activities or because it might look bad among your peers! What? Do your friends – and I use that term loosely – think running away is more au courant somehow?’

‘Well, I never!’ Mrs. Otis dramatically slapped her hand over her heart – if she even had one – as if her son had physically broken it, and then wheeled around to snap at her husband. ‘Roger, are you going to allow our son to speak to me in this manner?’

Alyssa turned her attention to Mr. Otis who, so far, seemed more like an embarrassed spectator than an active or willing participant in his wife and son’s exchange. With all eyes on him, the renowned surgeon shrugged. ‘Nicholas, please refrain from speaking to your mother in such a way. It’s impolite and disrespectful.’

Instead of sounding like he meant it, he sounded like someone used to reciting his lines, willing only to do his part, or the part delegated to him. The man may have been born with the proverbial silver spoon, but that sure hadn’t bought him a backbone.

Nick’s head tilted back as his eyes lifted to the ceiling, and then he turned his back to both parents, addressing Alyssa and Cord once more. ‘I don’t think my sister ran off. She was never much for the technicalities of school, but since Mom and Dad told her they’d cut off her allowance if she didn’t attend college, she went. I talked to her after her last final, and she was relieved her freshman year was out the window and she could focus on enjoying her summer break. That doesn’t really sound like someone who was secretly about to take off for places unknown. I don’t know what’s happened to her, but I’m willing to answer whatever questions you have so we can figure it out and find her.’

‘We appreciate that, Nick.’ Alyssa turned her attention back to Mr. and Mrs. Otis. ‘Do you mind if we take a look at Rachel’s room?’

Mrs. Otis narrowed her lips into a thin line. ‘Very well. Come along. Though I don’t know what you’re hoping to find.’