The Night She Disappeared Read Online Free PDF

lighted sign for Pete’s Pizza on top, instead of the black Mini Cooper, I knew something had gone awry. I should have driven away. It would have taken time, but I could have found a new isolated location where I could phone in a false address on another Wednesday night.
    But I let my hunger overcome my good sense. I told myself that Kayla, while not perfect, could still be molded. After all, even Gabie couldn’t last forever. I ignored the little voice that told me I was making a mistake, and I waved Kayla down.
    When she saw my familiar face, she smiled, and I almost thought I had done the right thing. A few seconds later, I realized how wrong I was, but it was too late.
    What I want—need—is to start over. With Gabie, the one I really wanted. But to do that, first I need to get rid of my mistake.
    I can take Kayla down to the river and let her go. Release her from her troubles. They might not ever find her, and even if they do, the water should wash away any trace evidence. They’ll never know she was alive for a few days before she went in.
    And then I can start fresh.

The Fourth Day
     
    Drew
     
    THERE’S A MANDATORY meeting in the dough room at ten this morning. We have to have it there because the break room can only hold about three people.
    The room’s buzzing. The conveyor belt has been turned off. Someone has dragged in chairs from the restaurant tables to supplement the folding ones. They’re lined up three across down the long narrow room.
    There’s all kinds of rumors. Someone tried to break into Kayla’s parents’ house. Last night, a pizza driver from Papa John’s disappeared. The cops want all the guys who work at Pete’s to dress like girls and deliver pizzas as bait. Someone saw Kayla walking down Pine Street in Seattle. Pete is going to shut down and declare bankruptcy.
    I just listen. It’s clear nobody knows anything.
    Gabie stands in the doorway a second. Then she takes the chair next to me. No one else is sitting near me. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but is it because I let Kayla go out on the delivery? Because I took the guy’s order like it was real and let her drive off?
    It was so crazy last night—especially after Courtney quit—that Gabie and I didn’t have a chance to talk. I was going to offer to walk her to her car, but Pete did before I could say anything.
    Even though Gabie wasn’t there Wednesday, I think she understands how I feel. After all, she was supposed to be working. And the guy asked for her. Me? I was the last one to see Kayla, but I can’t even remember her last words. They were probably something ordinary, but now they seem important.
    If only I could remember what they were.
    Of course, Kayla’s last words probably weren’t whatever she said to me as she picked up her keys and the three red insulated boxes. And they probably weren’t words at all, but a scream.
    Thoughts like these are the reason I’m not sleeping anymore.
    Gabie sits with her shoulder curled over, chewing on the edge of one fingernail, with her hair falling in her eyes. Her legs are jigging up and down. I have a feeling I’m not the only one who isn’t sleeping. Maybe I shouldn’t have told her what the guy said. But how could I not? Besides, the cops probably told her first thing.
    Pete comes in. He’s a little guy, about five foot five, with black hair, a big nose, and a belly. Behind him is one of the cops who talked and talked to me. At the sight of his uniform and the black gun on his hip, the room goes completely quiet.
    “This is Sergeant Thayer,” Pete says. “He’s here to answer your questions.”
    Beside me, Gabie takes a deep breath. She raises her hand. “Have you found Kayla?”
    “Not yet, Gabriella.” A jolt of electricity goes through the room. Everyone realizes this cop knows her name. “We still don’t know exactly what happened. We know some guy called in a pizza order to an address that doesn’t exist. We found Kayla’s vehicle near that road, so we