Dead Girls Walking: A Novel

Chapter Nine

Viola

Viola stared out her bedroom window, pressing the bottle to her lips and letting the vodka overtake her dry mouth. She hadn't left this position for the last five hours.

She promised herself that she wouldn't do this again. It was the worst it had ever been during the summer. It was the only coping method to deal with her secret, which could be revealed to the public at any moment.

The sky was cloudy, as usual, but from the light peeking through the clouds it was obvious the day was about to start. No cars passed through the streets except for a few cops cars during the night. It was like everyone was hiding in their houses. Like they hid from Ryan Vota the night of Spring Fling 25 years ago.

Her head began to pound. She rubbed her temples, and coughed. She needed some water.

She stood up and stumbled down the stairs and quietly got a water from the kitchen. Her dad was asleep on the couch, with the morning news blaring on the television screen. It said the same thing: Chaceton High School Student Found Dead. Shots of the Mikhail household with police tape across it and snippets of witness statements played. David's school picture appeared, and Viola felt his eyes on her. "The community is devastated by this tragedy, and our hearts go out to the Mikhail family." said Alana Wheeler, one of the reporters for the local news. Viola remembered her. She covered most of the reports on Olivia's disappearance. She requested to interview Viola once, which she denied of course.

Viola went back into her room, chugged the water, and pulled out her laptop. She may have been drunk, but it was time to get down to business. If Olivia did kill David, it was only a matter of time before she hurt someone else. She just had to find proof that she was in fact alive and well.

She opened Google and put in Olovia Lwller. Damn, she couldn't even type properly. She deleted it and carefully typed Olivia Keller. Tons of articles popped up. Chaceton Teen Missing, Olivia Keller, 16, Believed Dead by Authorities, Chaceton Teen Still Missing, New Lead in Olivia Keller Case, Chaceton Teen Believed to be Kidnapped. Viola clicked on one from Newsday:

Olivia Keller, 16, of Chaceton has been reported missing. She was last seen on the night of July 27th, at a party held on Wicker Street in Chaceton. There has been no sightings of her since. If you have any information, contact your local police station.

Viola sighed. This wasn't gonna help. She clicked on the search bar and put in Olivia Keller Sightings. Only one thing came up. It wasn't Olivia, but a girl named Rachel Keller who went missing out in the midwest. Viola read the article. She was supposedly seen at a gas station a few days after she disappeared, and her body was found in a creek the next day. It sent chills down her spine as she read the words.

Then it gave Viola an idea. The article said that Rachel Keller was secretly working as a prostitute, and the cops believe that she was murdered by one of her clients. It was a rumor that the Sunoco on the Jericho Turnpike was a popular spot for ladies of the night. Most of the girls were runaways and drug addicts. Maybe Olivia had been going there this entire time.

Viola grabbed her phone and called Jasmine.

"What?" Jasmine groaned. Viola completely forgot how early it was.

"I think I know where we can find Olivia."

Lacey

Lacey shoved a mouthful of cereal into her mouth. The TV was on the kitchen, playing the same news report about David's murder for the hundredth time. Her mother entered the kitchen, carrying her pocketbook. She made herself a cup of coffee.