Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Since we knew Scottie better than anyone, the cops had asked us to meet them at Wayne’s house this morning. They had a list of questions they wanted to ask.
An officer was waiting for us at the house when we arrived. We invited him in and set our phones to charge before sitting down with him.
“I take it you didn’t sleep last night?” he said to Josh.
“No, sir.”
“Well, I want to assure you we still have a full team out searching for Mr. Longo. But we hoped to get some information from you that can help us.”
We spent the next half hour telling them all about Scottie’s favorite things—his chicken, his apps, his reverse Elton John music. I wasn’t entirely sure how any of that was going to help them find him, especially since he wouldn’t have any of those things at this point. The thought of even one cop here at the house and not out there looking for him made me uneasy.
After the officer left, I tugged on Josh’s jacket. “Let’s go back out.”
“You sure you don’t need to sleep?”
“Positive. I just need to pee.”
We quickly used the bathroom and then returned to the car, this time heading to another area a couple of miles from the neighborhood where the group home was located. No particular reason, but we needed to branch out.
Once we’d parked, Josh and I again split up and headed in different directions. I silently prayed every step of the way, feeling like I was wishing for a miracle. The more time that passed, the less likely we would find Scottie unharmed.
We each walked miles, passing out fliers the authorities had made with Scottie’s face on them. God, did he ever look like Brad in that photo. In the end, though, it turned out to be another long day of no leads.
As darkness fell again, I felt myself coming unraveled, and I could tell Josh was reaching the same point. By now every corner of Woodsboro had been surveyed. Josh and I hadn’t eaten, aside from the snacks he’d picked up at a convenience store last night. Even though neither of us felt hungry right now, I knew we’d need the sustenance for another night of searching. And at some point, I knew my body was going to shut down.
We decided to stop at the house to use the bathroom and scarf down some fast food we’d picked up on the way. I’d done the best I could to find something workable. My gluten-free diet didn’t matter in times like this.
Lorraine had called to tell us that she’d left Wayne’s house to shower back at her place and get a few hours of sleep, so the house was empty when we returned. Things were so quiet it was almost eerie as Josh and I sat across from each other at the kitchen table and wolfed down our food. At one point, our eyes locked. Josh’s expression was as hopeless as I imagined mine was right now.
I started to speak a few times, but nothing came out. I wished I could tell Josh everything was going to be okay, but I wouldn’t say it unless I believed it in my heart. The idea of getting a phone call terrified me, though I was also desperate for news. My nerves were shot as I braced for the worst. I needed to be prepared, just in case.
Just as we were about to leave again, Josh’s cell phone rang. We’d given his number to the police, and my heart sank deeper than I’d realized it could go.
CHAPTER 31
* * *
CARLY
“HELLO?” JOSH’S HAND trembled as he lifted the phone to his ear.
His chest rose and fell as his eyes moved from side to side.
There’s news. I just didn’t know what. My heart beat like crazy. He kept nodding, and suddenly his lips began to quiver.
He looked at me. “He’s alive. They found him. He’s alive! He’s okay.”
He’s okay.
He’s okay.
Oh my God! He’s okay!
I burst into tears, a massive amount of air escaping me. My body felt like oxygen had just been returned to it. I’d been a walking shell of myself since arriving here, and I was alive again.
Josh ran his hand through his hair as he paced. “Where is he? Can we go to him?” He kept nodding and turned to me and whispered, “They’re bringing him here.” He nodded some more. “Okay. Okay. Thank you, officer. Thank you so much.”
After he hung up, Josh tossed the phone and collapsed to his knees. He held his head in his hands and wept. I walked over to him and knelt, joining him on the floor. We clung to each other as we both cried tears of joy. Tears of love.
After several minutes, I sniffled and asked, “Where did they find him?”