Gone Girl

three

"You know what I don't get?" Foster asked as both he and Torres entered his car the next day, on their way to Franklin Regional High school.

Ashley rolled her eyes. She didn't have time to listen to Foster. He always came up with the weirdest theories, yet sometimes they managed to be right.

"What?" She finally asked, when they both got into the car and he starts the fairly old engine and drove down the packed road.

"In Mackenzie's statement, she said 'my dad' instead of 'dad' or 'our dad'. That's weird," Foster said as they stopped at a red light.

Maybe this theory isn't so weird after all.

"That's distancing language. Why would Mackenzie distance herself from her perfect older sister?"

"Maybe her sister wasn't so perfect after all," Foster said as he pulled into the school parking lot.

It was only around 7:40, classes not starting for another twenty minutes. They didn't know who exactly they were looking for. They only people they knew associated with Maddie was Chloe, Paige, Nia, and Kendall. Both Kendall and Paige were dead ends. (Even though Andrew insists something is off with Paige.) And that left Chloe, Maddie's 'best friend' and Nia, who acted very suspicious the day they visited Kendall.

The two detectives walked into the school, where freshman lockers were located, catching the attention of everyone they passed. After carefully analyzing the students they had come across, they finally found someone that looked like they had talked to Maddie at one point or another; a fellow popular.

A girl was at her locker, surrounding by a small crowd of both boys and girls chattering loudly, giggling escaping the little group.

"Alright, party's over." Both detectives flashes their badges, causing everyone but the girl to flee. She was petite and black, her dark brown hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. She stared at the detectives in confusion, her almond shaped eyes analyzing the detectives.

"Why are you here? I didn't do anything wrong." She readjusted the purse strap on her shoulder, a nervous gesture.

"What's your name?" Detective Torres asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She needed answers, and fast.

"Kayla. Kayla Anderson." Kayla gulped, hesitantly looking up to scan the detectives' faces. She had to look up to basically everything and everyone; she was only 5'2.

"Kayla, do you know Madison Ziegler?"

Kayla nodded. They weren't friends, but they knew each other. All the populars knew each other, it was like an unspoken rule.

"Yeah, I know her. We weren't really friends, but we've talked a few times."

Ashley and Andrew exchanged brief glances, before returning their attention back to the freshman standing before them.

"Was there a party the night Maddie disappeared?"

Kayla nodded her head yes. "There was, but I didn't go. I mean, I was planning to, but when my mom found out she freaked and made me go to that stupid lock in. I think Paige went, if that helps."

Ashley and Andrew looked at each other, their lips slightly parted and eyes widened. Paige Hyland had some explaining to do.

--

Kendall narrowed her eyes as she saw the detectives coming towards her. Class started in fifteen minutes and she had a test she could be studying for. Instead she was talking to one of the detectives who made her cry herself to sleep. Technically, it was Vic, but Ashley was there too and didn't exactly make an effort to stop him.