Chapter 61 Annabelle
Annabelle
“Are you going to have any more pancakes, or are you ready to go?” James asked Olivia, whose eyes had been bigger than her stomach.
“I’m done,” she said.
“I’m finished,” he corrected her.
“Me too,” she said, giggling. Annabelle delighted in her younger daughter’s ability to let everything roll off her back.
They paid the bill and left the diner. Annabelle’s lack of sleep was beginning to get to her.
It was not quite eleven o’clock. She didn’t know how she was going to stay awake until evening, but she knew better than to sleep now and throw her system off entirely.
When they got home, she went upstairs and was about to unpack when she heard their doorbell ring.
Must be Sophie, she thought as she looked out the bedroom window.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the police car.
Dropping the skirt in her hands, she flew down the stairs.
James was standing there with a police officer.
The officer looked up as she approached. James turned around.
“I was about to call you,” James said.
“Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, can we take a seat for a minute?” the officer asked.
“What’s happened?” Annabelle said, panic making her feel faint.
“Is Scarlett Reynolds your daughter?”
“Yes,” Annabelle and James answered in union.
“I’m afraid there’s been an accident. Your daughter was on her bike downtown, and she was struck by a car. We found your address in her wallet. It was on her country club membership card. She’s on her way to Norwalk Hospital.”
“No! What are you talking about? She was at her friend’s house,” James said.
“How badly is she hurt?” Annabelle asked, grabbing James’s arm to steady herself.
“I’m not sure, ma’am. Would you like me to take you to the hospital?”
“Yes!” She ran past James and out the door. “Call your mother to come stay with Olivia. You can meet me there.”
She jumped in the passenger seat of the police car and struggled to get a breath. “Where was she? Who hit her? She wasn’t even supposed to be on her bike.”
“It was a hit-and-run. There were no witnesses. There’ll be an investigation, of course.”
It didn’t make any sense. Avery lived on the other side of town.
Scarlett was in downtown Bayport. What was she doing there on her bike this early in the morning?
“I don’t understand,” she said to herself as much as to the officer.
Then she had an idea. She called James. “Text me the phone number to Avery’s house. I want to see if she knows anything.”
“Okay. My mother just got here so I’ll meet you at the hospital. I tried to call, but I couldn’t get any information.” He sounded as frantic as she felt.
She ended the call and waited for the text. As soon as the number came through, she hit call.
“Hello?”
“Is this Avery’s mother?”
“Yes, who’s this?” the woman asked.
“This is Annabelle Reynolds. I’m Scarlett’s mom. She told me she was going to your house today, but she was hit by a car downtown. Do you have any idea where she might have been going, or does your daughter know anything?” The words came out in a rush.
“Oh my gosh, that’s terrible! Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. I’m on my way to the hospital now.”
“Hold on, let me get Avery. As far as I know, she had no plans with Scarlett today.”
Her heart dropped. Scarlett had lied to them. What could she be hiding? A few minutes later, Avery’s mother was back.
Annabelle felt sick to her stomach as Avery’s mom told her that Scarlett had been conversing with a boy named Ben that she met online.
“Avery said they were meeting at the coffee shop downtown today.”
“I’ve never heard of this Ben. Do you know anything else about him?”
“Let me put my daughter on.”
“Mrs. Reynolds?”
“Avery, what is going on? Who is Ben? How long has this been going on?”
She could hear Avery crying. “I’m sorry.
I covered for her. She said she knew she could trust him.
I tried to get her to find out more about him.
All I know is that his name is Ben, and he lives in Chicago.
He said he was coming here with his dad, who was in town for a business trip.
I’ve seen his Instagram. I can send you the link. ”
Annabelle tightened her hands into fists, doing everything she could not to scream.
“Yes, please send it.” When she ended the call, she turned to the officer.
“I think she met a predator online. She must have been trying to get away from him.” Her whole body was shaking now, and she hugged herself to try to stop it.
She clicked on the link Avery sent, and it took her to Instagram.
It was a good-looking young kid. Model good-looking.
The kind of picture a catfisher would use.
The name was generic—Ben Smith. “Can you get a warrant to see who the Instagram page belongs to?”
“Yes, definitely. When we get to the hospital you can give the information to the detective meeting us there.”
Annabelle wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her dreams had warned her, and she had dismissed them. “Can you go any faster?” she pleaded. “Please. Hurry!”