Chapter 44
CHASING THE RUNAWAY
WILL
Istood up and headed out of the gym, my heart pounding as I weaved through the rows of chairs and slipped into the hallway. The sound of applause and muffled chatter from the pageant echoed behind me. I walked quickly toward the girls’ bathroom, stopping at the door and knocking firmly.
A woman stepped out, her expression curious. “Can I help you?”
“Is there a young girl in there? I’m looking for my daughter.”
She shook her head apologetically. “Sorry, no one’s in there.”
I thanked her and stepped outside. A faint breeze brushed against my face as I scanned the parking lot. Parents were still inside the gym, but a few had started trickling out to their cars. Madison was nowhere to be seen.
I pulled out my phone and dialed her number for the third time. Straight to voicemail. She’d turned off her location.
“Damn,” I muttered, typing out another text.
Will: Where are you?
No response.
The knot in my chest tightened as I heard the principal’s voice inside, wrapping up the program. A loud round of applause followed, signaling the end of the pageant. I couldn’t wait any longer, I needed to move.
I texted Natalie.
Will: Can you check the ladies’ bathroom again for me? I’m going to head out before traffic gets bad and start looking for her. Tell Ivy I’m sorry.
Then I called Kelly. She picked up immediately, her voice tight with worry.
“Did you find her?” she asked.
“No,” I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.
“She probably saw you with her and got upset,” she said.
“Kelly, this isn’t a time for blame,” I said firmly. “Do you know Kellen’s number? Or any of her friends? Any idea where she might’ve gone?”
“I’ll send you his number,” she said quickly. “I’ll start calling some of her friends.”
“Thanks. Let’s stick together on this. This is about getting Madison back safe.”
“Agreed,” she said. “Keep me updated.”
I glanced at my phone again.
Natalie: No sign of her anywhere. Let me know what I can do.
I called Natalie.
“Hey,” I said, my voice tight. “I’ve got to go find her.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” she asked. “Jason and Brooke are taking Bebe and James home, so I’m free.”
“No,” I said after a pause. “I think that might upset her more. Hang on, Kelly’s calling me.”
I switched over. “Hey.”
“I just talked to another mom,” Kelly said. “She said there’s a house party on Summit in Ridge North. Apparently, her daughter mentioned it earlier today.”
“I’m on it,” I said, already walking to my car.
I hung up and immediately called Natalie back.
“Kelly gave me a lead about a house party,” I said. “Can you head to my place, just in case she shows up there?”
“Of course,” she said without hesitation.
I sped through traffic, my jaw tight as I focused on the road. By the time I reached Summit, the street was lined with cars, music thumping faintly from a nearby house.
I parked and headed toward the house with kids coming in and out of, weaving through clusters of underage teenagers holding red cups. Inside, the living room was hot and stifling, the smell of cheap beer hanging heavily in the air.
I started asking random kids if they’d seen Madison. Most of them shrugged or avoided eye contact until finally, one girl spoke up.
“Yeah, she was here,” she said. “She left like ten minutes ago with some kids from Saint John’s.”
“Kellen?” I asked.
“Yeah, him,” she said.
“Do you know where they went?”
She shook her head. “Sorry, no idea.”
I left the party and got back into my car, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. I called Kellen’s number as I pulled out onto the road. It rang several times before going to voicemail.
“Kellen, this is Madison’s dad,” I said, my voice sharp. “Call me back immediately. I need to know where Madison is.”
I hung up and texted him as well:
Will: Kellen, this is Madison’s father. I am looking for her. Please have her call me.
No response.
I called Madison again, but her phone was still off. My frustration was starting to morph into panic. I couldn’t stop replaying her behavior earlier—how she sat stone-faced during the pageant, her crossed arms and pointed glares in Natalie’s direction.
My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it, relief flooding through me when I saw the name on the screen.
Natalie: I found her.
I exhaled sharply and immediately called her.
“You found her?” I asked, my voice rough.
“She’s at your place,” Natalie said. “I just pulled into the driveway, and she was getting out of a car. I will see you when you get here.”
“Thank God,” I muttered. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I texted Kelly quickly.
Will: She’s safe. Natalie found her at my house.
Kelly: Thank God. Call me when you get there.
I drove back, relief washing over me in waves. But as much as I was grateful that she was safe, I knew this wasn’t over. Madison couldn’t keep acting out like this, and I had no idea how to fix it.