Vanishing

13.

Cynthia

A Decade Earlier

I was jittery with excitement. Today was the day. Everything was going to change. Everyone was still piling onto the bus to head to the middle of the woods for a weekend of camping. Lindsey sat beside me tense and silent. I wanted to ask her if she had decided yet but there were too many prying ears. Instead, I waited.

When she took her phone out of her bag and started typing I kept my eyes glued to the window. She touched my arm and glanced down to see she had written me a message in her notepad.

I am having a baby. I will do it myself. Thank you for telling me.

I nodded sharply and turned to the window. Looks like it was planned for her then. No worries. I had it all under control. A part of me assumed the other night that her mind was already made up. She is too stubborn for her own good and I could not have her in my way a second longer.

Finally, the bus pulled away and chatter picked up. Excitement. I could taste it in the air.

When we stopped off two hours later at a McDonalds, I noticed how unwell Lindsey looked. She was pale and shaky.

"Stay here. I will bring you some oj." I offered. She smiled gratefully and I fought not to roll my eyes. So naïve. When I got her juice and my coffee, I slipped into the bathroom a checked that it was empty.

Opening my purse, I removed the box of morning pills and dumped them both into her cup. Stirring it until it looked normal again. I sipped it to make sure it tasted normal then went back to the bus.

She was sitting in the seat, head leaned against the window and eyes closed.

"Here." I said sliding in beside her.

"Thanks." She murmured taking a sip.

"Do you have to pee before we go again?" I asked.

"No." She sighed. Keeping her eyes closed.

By the time we had arrived she had finished her juice. I kept glancing at her to see if it was working but that led to frustration, so I stopped.

The plan from the moment we found out about this trip was for Brody and Lindsey to share a tent, but she was avoiding him like the plague, so Catherine offered to share with her and Fisher with Brody.

I rolled my eyes internally. Good old Catherine to the rescue as always.

Whatever, it did not affect my perfect plan.

Tents went up and Lindsey disappeared. When Coach Walker asked for her, we told him she was resting because she was not feeling well. He accepted this but I saw the panic in Bordy's eyes. Shit.

I pulled Catherine aside briskly and a little crazily I admit.

"What the hell?" She gasped, yanking her arm out of my hold.

"Lindsey knows about Charlie and Brody. Keep him away from her. That is the last thing she needs this weekend." I urged. Her eyes widened and she nodded obediently like I knew she would.

"Of course." She said, spotting my brother heading towards the tent. She took off quickly, intercepting him and I grinned to myself. Pat on the back, self. Quick thinking.

Everyone knew Catherine would do about anything for Lindsey. And it always worked to my advantage. I watched Brody stomp away and wondered what she had said to him. It did not matter. I watched him throughout the day.

He was orbiting towards my next target. Charlotte Dempsey.