Who are you?

Cecelia Part three.

"How long until you suspected Mr. Williams was the one harming your friends."

Chapter Four

It was three days into junior year that I even heard about Mallory's disappearance. Driving to school with Juliani in my passenger seat, we were chatting as friends usually do when they do not see each other often.

"Thanks for giving me a ride."

"Of course. You know I love driving."

"I also know you love to speed. Don't kill us,"

I laughed.

"If you don't want to speed, either get a new ride or finally get your license."

This made Julie slouch in her seat.

I am getting off track again.

As we drove, we passed Patty princess, which sparked a conversation.

"How is Patty Princess treating you?"

"It's going pretty well! I don't know, it's work," I remember forcing myself to shut up because I had a bad habit of rambling and oversharing, and if I am being honest, I still do. At that moment my mind had drifted to Devlin. It was only Thursday so I had a couple of days until I had to see him. I got lucky because he Door-dashed his order last time. Tucker had packaged it for me.

I wanted to change the subject at that moment "Do you know where Sonia has been?" It was not like her to miss school and we were only three days into the year.

"Didn't you hear?" Julie started. She told me about Mallory, her older sister, and her disappearance. How Mallory had just gone shopping one day and didn't return. Sonia had been beyond devastated, and frankly, I couldn't have blamed her.

Days went by without thinking about Mallory, Sonia, or Devlin. Sonia returned to school and Julie and I tried to be cheerful to distract her, but she seemed so worried. There was nothing we could do.

The Sunday after hearing the news, I went to work as normal. Around 9:30 the stand had finally cleared out after a rush, so Tucker and I were able to engage in our usual antics. We were cleaning the lobby when I saw Mallory's poster on the pinboard. Tucker caught my stare.

Looking towards the poster, he said "That's Sonia's sister, right?" I remember being shocked that he knew Sonia, but now I realize that we are all in the same graduating class. In a small town like this, it would be surprising if he didn't know everybody.

"Yeah. Sonia and I were really good friends growing up. We grew apart over Summer, but it really sucks to see her missing her sister."

"What a shame. I heard a lot of girls were going missing. You better be careful." He made a joke about how he couldn't let his favorite coworker go missing, but I cannot quite remember what it was.

There was silence until we saw a car pull up. I was closest to the counter, so I was the one who would have to take the order.

I heard the shoes before I saw him.

"Good evening, Devlin, what can I get started for you today?

"May I have a..." his order surprised me this time. Where he usually feeds three, there were only two meals. I thought maybe his child was staying at a friend's house or something like that. I told him his total and printed his receipt.

Tucker came back behind the counter. "What if Mallory just ran away? I heard she was pretty miserable with her parents fighting all the time."

I did not allow myself a moment to even consider it. "That does not sound like her."

Devlin became very confused "Mallory?"

I nodded. "The girl on the poster over there. Do you know anything? She is my friend's older sister and we are all pretty worried."

He looked at the floor. "Nothing in particular."

Tucker handed him his food and he left.

He joked, "What are the chances he is the kidnapper?" Tucker laughed, but I didn't.