“Where’s Ella?” I asked.
“She’s probably outside,” Grandma said quickly. “You stay in bed, all right?”
Her voice trembled.
I heard the back door open.
“Ella!” Grandma called out.
No answer.
“Ella, you get in here right now!”
Her voice grew sharper, rising with panic. Then I heard hurried footsteps—fast, uneven.
I couldn’t stay in bed anymore.
I got up, the hallway cold under my feet. By the time I reached the front room, neighbors had already gathered at the door. Mr. Frank knelt down in front of me.
“Have you seen your sister, sweetheart?” he asked gently.
I shook my head.
Then the police arrived.
Blue jackets. Wet boots. Radios cracking with static. Questions I didn’t know how to answer.
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