It all started on a cold, windy September day when Elsie came home from school to find her front door hanging open. Because she was only ten then, her curiosity got the better of her and she walked straight inside. "Mommy?" she called out. The moaning of the wind was her only reply. She began to search the house. Into every room she went, looking for Lily. Elsie thought her mommy was playing hide and seek with her. "Mommy, you win! Where are you Mom?"
It became apparent that Lily was gone and not returning. Elsie used her good judgement and went over to her neighbors', the Johnsons, house. She told them that her mom was missing. Mrs.Johnson knew immediately that something was wrong. Lily had been acting very strangely for the past few weeks. She seemed anxious and fearful. Mrs.Johnson told her husband to call the police.
***a few hours later***
Elsie wondered what "foul play" meant. She asked Mrs.Johnson to explain it to her.
"Well sweetie," she began, " it means that the police suspect that your mommy's disappearance was because something bad happened. They think she might have been kidnapped." Her voice wavered. A tear slipped down her cheek."They think she might have been killed."
A wave of horror washed over Elsie. The one person who truly loved and adored her, gone, forever? "NO! NO YOU'RE LYING! SHE'S NOT GONE! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" she screamed. Her body was racked with sobs, and she disolved into tears. Her mom couldn't be gone, she just couldn't be. Elsie refused to believe it. From that moment on, Elsie vowed to herself that she would find her mother. If she did nothing else in her life, she would do that one thing. And she lived up to that promise....
