Chapter 10
“I can’t believe how cold it got out there!” Amanda exclaimed as she changed her clothes before dinner. “Look—my toes are bright pink, and I was wearing two pairs of socks under my boots!”
“I heard Mr. Hudson say that the storm might turn into a blizzard,” Peichi reported. “Wouldn’t that be cool? What if we got stuck here an extra day!”
“Oooh, I’ll keep my fingers crossed!” cried Iris.
“I am so hungry!” Natasha said. “Let’s hurry over to the lodge. We can hang out with Shawn before dinner.”
At the lodge, the girls searched the dining room and the rec room, but there was no sign of Shawn.
“That’s weird. Did we pass her on the way from the cabin?” asked Molly.
“I didn’t see her,” Amanda replied doubtfully.
Elizabeth checked her watch. “Dinner is in half an hour. I’m sure she’ll be back.”
The twins exchanged a glance. “You know, I think I’ll go back to the cabin real quick to see if she’s there,” Molly said.
“Me, too,” Amanda and Natasha quickly said as Peichi nodded her head.
Tessa shrugged. “Okay. See you in the dining room!”
The Chef Girls trudged through the snow back to their cabin, only to find it dark and deserted. For a moment, no one spoke.
“Well, maybe she went outside for something, and then went right back to the lodge,” Peichi finally said.
“Maybe,” Molly and Amanda said together—but it was obvious they weren’t convinced.
The girls hurried back through the falling snow. From outside, the lodge glowed with warm light, and they could see several students through the windows, laughing and having a great time.
She’s got to be in the lodge—where else would she be? Molly thought.
It was just after six, and the dining room was filled with hungry students eagerly awaiting dinner. The Chef Girls hurried over to their usual table, where Iris, Tessa, and Elizabeth were waiting for them.
Shawn wasn’t there.
“This is seriously weird,” Molly said with a frown. “Shawn wasn’t at the cabin. And she knows dinner is at six.”
“I’m worried,” Amanda said bluntly.
“Okay,” Natasha said slowly. “Um, I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. But I’ll tell my mom anyway.”
Natasha crossed the room to the table where the chaperones and teachers were having dinner. The adults stopped eating and looked at her as she approached.
“Hi, sweetie,” Mr. Ross said cheerfully. “How is everything?”
“Um, fine,” Natasha replied cautiously, wishing that all the adults weren’t staring at her. “But, um, we can’t find Shawn.”
“What do you mean, sweetheart?” Mrs. Ross asked, raising her eyebrows.
“Well, she didn’t come skiing with us this afternoon. She just wanted to read her book in the rec room,” Natasha explained. “And after we got back, we couldn’t find her. She’s not in our cabin and she’s not anywhere in the lodge.” She stopped to take a breath, realizing how scary her words sounded.
“All right. Let’s just stay calm,” Mrs. Ross said in an even voice.
But Mr. Hudson, Mr. Degregorio, and Detective McElroy were already on their feet. “We’ll need half the chaperones to search the cabins,” Mr. Hudson said. “I’ll check the barn. Faith, would you check the kitchen and search through the lodge one more time?”
Mrs. Hudson hurried toward the kitchen, and half of the chaperones went to put on their coats. Natasha sat down heavily next to her mother.
Mrs. Ross put her arm around her daughter. “Try not to worry, sweetheart,” she said. “I’m sure Shawn is fine.”
Molly and Amanda hurried over to the table. “What’s going on?” Molly asked in a low voice.
“They’re searching all the buildings on the grounds,” Mrs. Ross replied as she stroked Natasha’s hair. “Perhaps she fell asleep and missed dinner.”
Fifteen minutes later, all of the adults were back in the dining room. Detective McElroy came up to the chaperones’ table.
“She’s not in any of the buildings,” he said in a low voice. “Mr. D., I need you to call her parents. Explain that we’re not sure where she is, but we’re organizing a search party. Tell them to stay in Brooklyn for now; we’ll call with an update every thirty minutes. Tell them the police are involved and we’re doing everything we can to find her right away.” Detective McElroy turned to the other parents. “Half of you need to stay here—the lodge is home base. Keep the other students calm. No one leaves the lodge, understand? The rest of the chaperones need to serve on the search party. Mrs. Hudson, where’s your phone? I’m going to call the local police.”
The air in the room charged with tension as the adults went to work.
“Ohmigosh,” whimpered Amanda. “What if—what if Shawn is out there in this storm, all alone in the cold?” She bit her lip to keep from crying.
“We’ve got to help with the search party,” Molly said, jumping to her feet. “I want to go now.”
“Sit down, Molly,” Mrs. Ross said in a voice that was both gentle and firm. “None of the students will be searching outside for Shawn tonight. And the police will probably want to talk to you girls, too, since you’re Shawn’s best friends. I know you’re worried. But we all need to stay calm.” She patted Molly and Amanda’s shoulders.
Natasha looked at Mrs. Ross gratefully, and, for the first time, was glad her mother had come on the trip.
An hour later, the areas around Chestnut Hill Farm were swarming with police and rescue volunteers. The police quickly converted the dining hall into search-party central; in the rec room, the students sat together in small groups, talking quietly. No one could believe that Shawn Jordan was missing.
The Chef Girls were allowed to stay with Mrs. Ross in the dining room, waiting to hear any news.
“Molls,” Amanda said quietly. “I’m so worried. Waiting is awful.”
“I know,” Molly replied. “I just keep hoping, over and over, that—” She stopped speaking as Angie slipped into the dining room, looking ill.
Amanda stood up. “What do you want?” she demanded. “Shouldn’t you be off celebrating somewhere?”
Angie looked pale, and her eyes were red and glassy, as if she’d been crying. “I—I need to talk to someone about Shawn,” she said in a quavering voice. “I—I know what happened.”
“Oh, yeah, right,” Amanda said, her voice rising. “I’m sure you do, Angie.”
Mrs. Ross intervened. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“Tell Angie to get out,” Amanda said harshly. Molly put her hand on her sister’s arm, trying to calm her.
“Wait! I know where Shawn is,” Angie burst out. “At least, I think I do. I think she’s on Five Point.”
“Why would Shawn go there?” Molly asked incredulously.
“Because I told her to!” Angie exclaimed, then burst into tears. Sobbing, she continued, “I told her Amanda had an accident on the slope. She hurried off to sit with her while I got help. And no-nobody’s seen her since.”
The twins stood there, shocked. “How could you?” Amanda asked, her voice trembling. “How could you?”
Angie started crying harder.
“Detective McElroy!” Mrs. Ross called out. “Mrs. Lopez!” She put her hand on Angie’s back and quickly led her across the room. “Girls, sit there. I’ll be right back,” she called over her shoulder.
Molly felt sick. “Poor Shawn,” she breathed. “She’s been out there—in the cold—in the snow—for hours!”
“Maybe she’s not outside,” Natasha said nervously. “Maybe she’s...” Her voice trailed off.
Everyone knew Shawn was outside.
Peichi just stared out the window at the swirling snow, her face pale.
When Amanda spoke again, her voice was hard and cold. “I’m going to get Angie for this. She’ll pay.”
“Yes, she will,” Mrs. Ross said as she joined the group. “She’ll be severely disciplined by the school. And she’ll have to live for the rest of her life knowing what she did. But you don’t need to get even with her, Amanda.”
“But I want to! I will!” Amanda cried. “This is the most—the terrible—what if they don’t find her?”
“Shh, shh,” Mrs. Ross said comfortingly. She pulled Amanda to her. “They’ll find her. She’ll be okay.”
“We have to get out there!” Molly said. “We have got to find her!”
Amanda started to cry softly into Mrs. Ross’s shoulder.
“Come here, Molly,” Mrs. Ross said. “She’ll be okay.” She reached out and put her other arm around Molly. “She’ll be okay.”
I’m so glad Mom is here, Natasha thought as she watched her mother comfort Molly and Amanda. She knows just what to do. Natasha reached out and touched Peichi’s arm. Peichi looked at her and smiled weakly, her eyes filled with tears. There was nothing to do but wait.
