Chapter 78
Kirsten
@Greenyflypodcasts, TikTok
We’re launching a podcast next week to discuss the ins and outs of the Maple Clark and Ella Hart story, and we would love you all to get involved! Follow us for more details #findElla #findMaple
I’ve wiped my tears, brushed my teeth, and reapplied my makeup. I’ve also found a photo of Maple, one taken at Garrett’s parents’ house last Christmas, which I think strikes the right balance between wholesome and pretty.
But when I head back to the kitchen, my carefully constructed demeanor cracks on impact because there are two strangers – a man and a woman, both younger than Officer Browne, but with the same air of authority – leaning against the counter next to him.
Garrett has retreated to the couch and is now staring at the backyard, maybe replaying our poolside argument in his head. I hope he’s hating himself for it.
‘Mrs. Clark?’ the woman says, taking a step forward. She’s tall and blond, with freckles, and long hair tied back in a low ponytail. ‘I’m Detective Nicholls and this is my colleague, Detective Martinez. Is that Maple?’ She gestures toward the photo.
I nod, smile, pass it to her.
‘Thank you. To be clear, while we are here to investigate Maple’s disappearance as a potential kidnapping, that doesn’t mean it’s our primary line of inquiry – still the most likely scenario is that she’s run away.
But Officer Browne has those protocols in hand – he’s issued a BOLO locally and has added Maple’s details to the NCIC’s Missing Persons File amongst other things.
But are you okay for me to ask you a few questions? ’
I nod again. I should probably speak at some point, but my throat is too constricted.
‘Great,’ Detective Nicholls continues. ‘Now, I understand you have access to Maple’s social media accounts.
I appreciate Maple has a lot of followers, but have you noticed anything of particular concern lately?
Like followers who’ve shown a heightened level of interest in her?
You know, messaging her a lot, asking for private photos or to meet up in real life? ’
I think of Blake. The invite to Vegas. The two requests for photos.
‘No, nothing like that,’ I say, finding my voice at last, even if it is croaky.
‘I mean, there are always some unsavory comments on her posts, but I just delete those and block the account that left them, and that’s the end of it. I’m very vigilant about this stuff.’
‘I’m sure you are,’ the detective says in a voice that screams the opposite. ‘And what about messaging apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp? Do you have Maple’s login details for those too?’
Heat rises in my cheeks. ‘Maple is nearly fifteen. We felt she deserved some privacy.’
‘Privacy, yes, of course.’
I narrow my eyes. Was that a dig?
‘Mr. Clark said there was an incident at school a few weeks ago,’ the detective continues, looking over toward Garrett then back at me. ‘But you didn’t report it.’
‘The man with the chocolates?’ I raise my eyebrows. ‘I didn’t report it because Maple asked me not to. She said the guy seemed harmless and she didn’t want to make a fuss.’
‘Okay.’ The detective draws out the word. ‘And there have been no other incidents?’
‘Nope.’ I shake my head.
‘Mrs. Clark, I understand Maple has recently started a new YouTube channel.’
I turn toward Detective Martinez. His voice is lower than his colleague’s but also softer.
‘You mean this thing she’s doing with Dylan?
’ I ask. ‘They’ve got it into their heads that Ella Hart, she’s another influencer, or was anyway, part of the Hart family – you probably know of them.
Anyway, Maple and Dylan think she’s gone missing and they’re trying to track her down. ’
‘So two teenagers set up a channel to find a missing girl, and then one of them goes missing herself,’ Detective Martinez says slowly. ‘This definitely isn’t a publicity stunt?’
‘Maple wouldn’t do that to us,’ Garrett mutters from the couch. I’m not sure I agree – I imagine hurting us is very high on Maple’s agenda right now – but I don’t think she’s doing this for likes either. I also don’t think Dylan’s capable of it; he’s too green, too na?ve to try anything that smart.
‘It’s not Dylan you should be suspecting of helping Maple,’ I say. ‘It’s her friend Coco, a girl who I think might be more of a bad influence on Maple than I realized.’
‘Coco who?’ Detective Nicholls asks.
‘Well, that’s just it, we don’t know,’ I say.
‘Dylan’s trying to track her down through his TikTok fanbase, but with all your police resources, I imagine you can beat a fifteen-year-old kid to that kind of information?
I mean, you could stay here and chat to us some more if you prefer, but that might be a better use of your time? ’