Swell (Complete)

Chapter Fifty-One (Part Two)

"I was caught up in the mystery,
You were running from your history,
Tangled up in a memory,
Tell me how you sleep."

....

Marti looked up from Adora rolling on the grass with the chocolate Labrador and frowned. "I think your Mum's calling." Adora tilted her head and listened for a few moments.
"That would be Mum." She agreed and got up from the ground. The walked back to the house and saw Anne waiting in the frame of the alfresco.
"Is that Will?" Marti saw the figure in the kitchen window.
"I think it is. So you think something else has happened?" They'd taken Edgar out after Adora's phone calls with Dodge.
They'd both decided exploring with the dog for a few hours was a good distraction.
Marti hadn't seen much of the property before, so she had enjoyed the tour and playing with Edgar. She didn't realise hours had gone by until she entered the kitchen.
"Have you heard from Debbie lately?" Anne asked, looking at Adora.
Adora tilted her head and Marti watched her try and think. "No." Adora shook her head.
"Neither have I." Marti added.
"She didn't go home last night." Anne told them.
Adora leaned against the wall and wrapped her arms around her. "She's missing?"
"Her parents called us to check with Tom too." Will said from the bar stool at the bench.
"Have they told the police?" Adora's voice was barely a whisper.
"I'm not sure. I'm about to call them back and give them your answer. I'll see then." Anne moved to the corner and started to use the phone again.
Marti bit her lip as Will left his stool and came over to them. He put a hand on Adora's shoulders.
"You're worried?" He asked gently.
"There was blood on my locker this morning. We don't know how long it was there." Adora looked at Will and Marti saw the despair in her eyes.
It made her stomach twist. "I'm sure she's fine. You're not even really friends with her, so..." Marti spoke up.
Adora took a deep breath and Will drew her into his arms, looking at Marti over Adora's head.
Adora wrapped her arms around Will's waist and Marti swallowed a lump before she turned her attention to Anne, now hanging up the phone.
"They've notified the police, and the school." Anne explained. "In a few hours, they'll make it official; Debbie is missing."
Adora looked at her mother and whimpered in Will's arms.
"I thought it was all over when they arrested Tom." She started to tremble. "But it's not, is it?"
Will's face was torn as he looked from Marti to Anne. "I'm sure she's just gone for a break somewhere." He said, though his voice was uncertain.
"What if it was her blood on my locker? What if something happened and Tom left her somewhere before I cut him?"
"Adora, I don't..."
"Don't think like that." Marti interrupted Will and put a hand on Adora's back next to Will's forearm.
"Her family is going to be driving around and now we all know, we'll be on the look out too. We'll find her." Anne sounded more convinced than Will. "We know what Debbie can be like when she is upset."
"But I don't think..." Adora pulled back and wiped at her face.
She was crying.

She was crying over Debbie despite the lie that let Tom stay out of jail, and murder Gus.
Marti felt anger rising inside her stomach as she stared at Adora's tear trails.
"Don't panic yet. The blood could be from an animal for all we know." Anne sat down at the kitchen table and stared at the book open on it.
Marti could tell it was too late to calm Adora's anxiety down. In her friend's mind it was Debbie's blood that had been on her locker.
"Maybe we can go and look for her too?" Marti suggested.
"No." Anne's voice was firm and it surprised Marti.
"Why not?" Adora stepped closer to the table.
"It's too dangerous." Anne looked from her daughter to Will and Marti in turn.

Were they still suspects in her mind? Is that why she refused to let Marti share Adora's bedroom?
Marti felt the air leaving her body and took Adora's place against the wall.

It had to be over soon, surely Friday night would be a good, fun night for them all at the dance.
Adora needed it, more than anyone.
Marti wiped her nose and let go of a long breath. She could almost feel Anne's suspicions burning holes into her body.