Time is Running Out

Chapter 3

The next week, the summer holidays were over. Joy, Emma and Rachel went back to school.

"Gemma, do you know Laura?" said Joy curiously to the pretty brown-haired girl who sat next to her.
 
Gemma Paris looked alarmed. "W-why? W-what Laura?"
 
"You know who I mean. Laura Paris. Not that I suspect you, but you have the same surname as her, so I thought maybe you'd know something," explained Joy.
 
Joy thought about Gemma's bewildered reply. There was definitely something that Gemma knew but she didn't; Gemma's stuttering was her tell. What was Gemma's relation to Laura? Could Gemma know more than she let on?
 
Looking around carefully, Gemma whispered, "Look, don't tell anyone, ok, Joy? Can you keep a secret?"
 
"Ok?"
 
"You don't sound too sure, Joy..."
 
"Well..."
 
"Joy, just give me a sturdy reply and I'll know that I can trust you."
 
"I promise I will keep whatever you are about to tell me a secret."
 
"Laura's my cousin."

A few weeks later, someone else was missing.
 
Gemma.

 
"I know Mom said we can't investigate, but Gemma is missing now!" Joy cried as the three were playing board games in Emma's bedroom one rainy day.
 
"And you want to investigate now," said Rachel.

"While all along you were the one who didn't want to?" Emma chimed in.

"Well, but Gemma's my friend!" said Joy. "It feels so weird without her sitting next to me!"
 
"And that's why you want to find her?" said Emma.
 
"Because it feels weird without her sitting next to you?" added Rachel 'helpfully'.

"No, but I'm investigating. Even if you two won't help me," Joy said determinedly and walked out of the room. "I'm getting some snacks."
 
Rachel and Emma looked at each other and shrugged.

They both nodded, knowing the other would join.
 
"No backing out of this," said Rachel.
 
"I won't. But will you?" replied Emma calmly.
 
"Never."
 
The two looked at each other in the eyes defiantly, as if answering a silent challenge.
 
"First one who gives up is chicken," said Rachel, "and I bet it's you."

"When pigs fly," answered Emma disgustedly. "We'll see, Rachel Arden."

✴✴✴

"Guys. Is Tammy Brendon in any way related to Laura or Gemma?" asked Joy, back with cookies.

"Probably not," said Rachel.
 
"Why?" asked Emma.

"Well, I was thinking, Laura's Gemma's cousin," Joy explained.

"Wait. What colour is Tammy's hair?" said Emma suddenly, standing up from where she had been
pondering over the matter at her desk.
 
Rachel shrugged. "Why do you want to know?"
 
Emma didn't reply, and flipped open her laptop.

Joy peered at what she was searching on the Internet.
 
"'Tammy Brendon'? Why are you searching for that?"she asked.
 
"The colour of her hair! Her hair! Tammy's hair! Laura's hair! Gemma's hair! The hair!" Emma mumbled to herself.
 
"What does she mean?"asked Rachel in confusion.
 
Joy shrugged. "Dunno, but if I know Emma she's onto something. I'm getting juice."
 
"Wait, Joy!" Emma called out.

"What?" Joy said.
 
"I meant Rachel. Sorry," Emma said.
 
"What?" Rachel said.

"How can I print stuff from the laptop, Rachel?" asked Emma.

✴✴✴

"So what was that about?" asked Joy.
 
"Yeah, tell us, Emma," Rachel agreed.
"Look," Emma passed Rachel and Joy the printed photos. "See anything?"
 
"No!" Joy piped up.
 
"Look closer," Emma said. "Closer."
 
"You know, you sound like one of those creepy fortune-tellers," joked Joy.
 
Emma swatted at her, slightly annoyed.
 
"I'm serious. Look. Just look," she told Rachel and Joy.
 
Joy and Rachel looked at the photos, almost touching the photos with their noses, so concentrated were they.

"Maybe..." said Rachel doubtfully.
 
Emma and Joy looked at Rachel expectantly.
 
"They've all got brown hair," she said.
 
"Exactly!" Emma said, clapping her hands once. "What do you make of that?"
 
"This is bone-chilling," said Joy, shivering.
 
"That's true, you might be next," said Rachel.
 
"What?" Joy squeaked.

"Well, you've also got brown hair! What's so surprising?" Rachel said.
 
"Rachel's right," said Emma.

Joy almost fainted.