Ten

Mason

Sheriff’s Office—The Interview

Monday, April 2

11:00 a.m.

I pull into the parking lot outside the sheriff’s department. It’s one place I never thought I’d have reason to be. I wasn’t even sure how to get here at first. I turn off the ignition and put my keys in my pocket. Even though I’m alone, it’s humiliating how bad my hands are shaking. I need to be strong for Kady.

The thought of someone touching her makes my stomach turn with the same sour spin it’s been doing since I left the rink two nights ago. Going around with her dad, handing out fliers yesterday…it felt like I was at least doing something. They need to find her. I need to find her.

I get out of my car and a gust of air lifts a greasy hamburger wrapper from the floor of my otherwise immaculate truck. Brady, I think. Goddamnit, Brady. My friends know they aren’t supposed to leave their food garbage in here. Sometimes I think they do it on purpose just to get me worked up. Normally I’d be pissed seeing that wrapper flutter around, then settle on the seat, but right now I can’t think about anything but Kady.

Once inside the sheriff’s department, I am directed to a small room. There’s a table. And a tiny tape recorder. It looks old.

“I’m Detective Kopitzke,” says a short, muscled man. He directs me toward a chair on one side of the table. “I’m going to be asking you some questions.”

He pushes the record button on the tape recorder and that’s when it begins. Though the way he talks, I have this terrible feeling that it’s already the end. Kady, I think. Kady.

Kopitzke: When did you first meet Kadence Mulligan?

The question is so basic, so inconsequential, that I’m not sure how to answer. Did anyone ever just meet Kady? More like, everyone knew who she was the moment she walked into a room. It wasn’t like there ever needed to be a formal introduction.

Mason: How does this help us find her?

Kopitzke: It helps to have a full picture of who she is.

I take a deep breath and give him the benefit of the doubt.

Mason: We met two years ago during our sophomore year.

Kopitzke: At school.

Mason: Not exactly. I met her in my little sisters’ playroom.

Kopitzke (laughing): Not what I was expecting.

Mason: It was a Saturday morning. I was playing tea party with my little sisters, Annabel and Meredith. They’re twins…

The detective raises his eyebrows at me, and I bite my lip. Heat rushes into my cheeks at the memory because that morning I was dressed in my usual Saturday morning clothes: a floppy, pink hat and a feather boa.

I was the only sophomore on the varsity hockey team back then. If any of my older teammates had seen me, I would never have lived it down. Still, I did whatever I could to make my little sisters happy. Translation, tea parties.

Mason: Then Mom woke up and came into the playroom…

I can picture her so clearly. Her bathrobe was cinched tightly around her waist, and her hair looked like birds had been trying to nest in it all night.

Mason: That’s when the doorbell rang. Mom answered it. A few minutes later she came back and said, “You have company.” And it was Kady.

Kopitzke: Had Kadence Mulligan ever come to your house before?

Mason: Never.

Kopitzke: That must have been an interesting morning for you. I don’t think any girls ever spontaneously visited me when I was in high school.

Mason: With Kady, things are always interesting.

In fact, thinking back, it had taken me a second to process what Mom was even saying. Kadence Mulligan was at our door?

My first thought was Why? But then I remembered something my lab partner said during biology when the varsity roster was posted: You being the only sophomore on the team is going to get you a lot of tail. Girls eat that crap up. And you know who loves a high profile more than anybody.

Who? I’d asked.

He’d narrowed his eyes at me. I’m just saying, if you get Kadence Mulligan’s attention, you’re set for life, my friend.

I thought he was blowing smoke up my ass. Not that I’d had any trouble with girls in the past, but Kadence Mulligan?

I swallow hard. Why haven’t they found her yet? What are they doing to find her? I think Kady’s dad might be right. They’re not doing enough. They’re not taking this seriously enough. These questions are pointless. They don’t even have modern recording devices. But I don’t say any of that to the detective.

Mason: Yeah. Kady’s like on another plane from the rest of us. Another stratosphere.

Kopitzke: Oh, come on. A good-looking guy like you? Smart. Athletic. Nice too? I’ve done my homework. Asked around. One girl we talked to called you the “total package.” I’m not surprised Kadence Mulligan would be interested in you.

I shake my head and once again fight back the blood that’s rushing into my cheeks. Kopitzke has it all wrong. I’m not all that, and I was completely surprised by Kady’s interest. From the moment I saw her leaning against the door frame to my sisters’ playroom, I was like, call it a day, signed, sealed, DE-livered. I was all in for this girl. I think my mouth may have even been hanging open.

I can still remember exactly what Kady looked like, standing there in that doorway, and I swear my heart knew it was in serious trouble. Because there I was, wearing a feather boa and holding a teacup to my lips. Pinky out.