The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Author:Holly Jackson [Jackson, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2024-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

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Bel didn’t go home again until it was dark. She closed the front door, wincing at the sound of the latch, giving her away. Home, except it wasn’t anymore; the air was different, it got trapped in your ears, amplifying every creak and sigh that a house was supposed to make. And the ones it wasn’t: footsteps from the living room, muffled and creeping.

Rachel’s head appeared around the corner, the rest of her body following, trapping Bel in the hallway.

“An-B-Bel. Where were you?”

Bel shrugged off her jacket. “Jeff and Sherry’s. Where were you?” She shot the question back at her.

Rachel’s mouth twitched, sharpening her chin. “After the officers finished their search here, I went to give my statement to the chief of police, told him the last time I saw Charlie, before I took a bath that evening. I didn’t hear him leaving, but he must have, during the night.”

Bel took one step forward, forcing Rachel to take one back, freeing her. “I thought you weren’t sleeping well,” she said, heading for the kitchen. Rachel tailed her. “Strange you didn’t hear anything.” Using one lie to un-flip another.

Bel reached for the refrigerator, pulled out the carton of apple juice Rachel had bought. Said she’d missed it while she was in that basement.

“He must have been quiet,” Rachel said, from the doorway.

“Must have been.” Bel took a sip, straight from the carton.

Rachel didn’t react. “It’ll be OK,” she said instead. “I promise.”

Bel tipped her head up and drained the carton, wiping her mouth on her sleeve.

“Where were you the rest of the day? Doesn’t take six hours to give a statement.”

“Driving around,” Rachel said, “to the places I thought he could be. Looking for him.”

Bel squeezed the empty carton, caving it in. She dropped it into the trash can, on top of a red takeout coffee cup, a logo with a cartoon cow, pursed lips to blow a steaming mug. Rachel must have stopped at a coffeehouse while out looking for Dad.

“You didn’t find him, then?” Bel spun around.

Rachel had moved into the room while Bel’s back was turned, feet silently tracing the floor. Both of them circling the other, pushing and pulling. Getting ready.

“No, I didn’t find him,” Rachel said.

“I will.” Bel met her eyes. “I’ll find him, bring him home.” Said as a promise, meant as a threat.

Rachel blinked.

“Risotto for dinner. Do you like risotto?”

“I already ate.”

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