Whitney would’ve been at the warehouse that afternoon. Possibly running errands for Natalie. Amelia should have been at swim practice. Not traipsing around Sunrise Mall and certainly not buying lingerie.

Was that what she bought?

The item was listed in a generic way. It could’ve just as easily been a regular bra.

But why would Amelia need a bra from Victoria’s Secret? And why wouldn’t she tell Whitney?

“Everything okay?” Natalie asked, shielding her eyes from the sun as the other one held a bag of groceries.

“Uh.” Whitney shook her head, shoved the receipt in her pocket. Then she reached down to the bag she’d abandoned. “Yeah. I just need to check something upstairs.”

When they got back to the apartment, Natalie immediately went to work putting away the groceries.

Whitney knew she should help her friend, but impatience buzzed through her. She headed straight to the computer. Going into her favorites, Whitney clicked on the bank tab. Then she went into Amelia’s account. She rarely checked it. Amelia was great at saving her money from her babysitting jobs and birthday cards from her grandparents.

That’s why Whitney was shocked to see the balance so low today. Scrolling, she saw the Victoria’s Secret purchase, along with several other purchases that day, including Starbucks and Chik-fil-A. Both totals were more than they would’ve been for one person. Amelia had clearly been treating someone else. Lauren, maybe?

But the transaction that surprised Whitney the most was one from earlier this week. Amelia had withdrawn three hundred dollars.

Whitney sat back in her chair.

What would Amelia need that much money for?

Heat snaked up her spine. There was only one thing that came to mind. Something Amelia could’ve done with all that money. She turned to her friend.

“Oh, my God. I think Amelia may have run away. And I think I know where she went.”

6

SEVEN WEEKS
BEFORE DROP-OFF

IT WAS QUIET. Eerily so.

Whitney walked slowly down the hallway, listening intently. When she reached Amelia’s bedroom door, it was open a sliver, enough for her to peek one eye through. Amelia and her new friend were sitting on the floor facing each other, legs crossed. When Lauren got here earlier, Amelia had barely taken the time to introduce her before the two scurried off and hid away in Amelia’s room. They sat so close their bare toes were practically entwined. With heads bent inward, they talked in low, hushed tones. A chill pricked the back of Whitney’s neck. It felt like she was encroaching on something private and intense. Usually, when Amelia had friends over, she’d find them in her room blasting music and dancing around. Amelia loved to dance. And be silly. This was new. Different. She swallowed hard and stepped back, the floor creaking beneath her feet.

Both of their heads snapped upward, their gazes shooting in Whitney’s direction.

“Mom?” Amelia called out.