Page 25 of Silent Echo

Charlotte and Agent Preston sat in Nora Rossi’s kitchen. Nora had ushered them right in when Agent Preston identified herself.

“I know why you’re here. It’s Sebastion’s mother, right? She’s violating the restraining order?”

Charlotte was about to speak, but a stern look from Agent Preston stopped her. She took a deep breath and waited for Preston to speak.

“Actually, Mrs. Rossi, your sister’s story about Sebastion is not accurate.”

Her brow creased. “What do you mean?”

“Were you aware of the bus accident that claimed the lives of the students and teachers on a field trip last November? The accident your sister was believed to be in?”

“Of course! I didn’t hear from her for two days afterward. I thought she was dead. She didn’t end up going on the trip because she’d been in a car accident that morning and was unconscious for two days.”

Agent Preston’s brows went up. “You didn’t think it was strange that she was listed as one of the casualties? Wouldn’t the school have known she didn’t come to school that day and wasn’t on the trip?”

Confusion played over her face. “Well, now that you say that—um—at the time I was just relieved that she was okay; I didn’t really question it. I think she explained it away by saying thenews got the names off the roster or something. Anyway, what does it have to do with anything?”

“Sebastion was a student of your sister’s. He was supposed to be on that field trip. In fact, your sister was not in an accident prior to the field trip and was on the bus. But we believe Sebastion got sick and they stopped at a fast-food restaurant. The bus continued without them. But no one knew that. They were both believed to be dead.”

Charlotte watched Nora’s face and saw the truth beginning to dawn on her. “Wait, are you saying she didn’t adopt him from foster care? That he went to that fancy school where she taught?”

Agent Preston nodded. “Yes. We were able to access her phone records from that day. She took an Uber from McDonald’s to her home. We interviewed the Uber driver and he identified her and Sebastion. She took him that day.”

“Oh my God! Are you sure? Why? Why would she do that? This makes no sense.”

Finally, Charlotte spoke. “Can I show you something?”

Nora nodded.

She pulled up the “favorites” album on her phone and handed it to Nora. “You can scroll through. I’m Sebastion’s mother. Those are pictures of the two of us over the years. As you can see, I love him very much. I would never hurt him.”

“Do you know where your sister is now?” Agent Preston asked.

Her hand flew to her mouth. “I booked her an Airbnb, but she called me just as you arrived. She knows you’re here. She said they’re leaving but wouldn’t tell me where.”

“Do you have the phone number she called from?”

Nora got up, grabbed her phone, and tapped it. “Here.”

Agent Preston took a screenshot and then sent a text. “We’ll track this and get a location. Give me the address of the Airbnb. She may have left something there that will help us.”

Nora wrote it down and gave it to her. She turned to Charlotte. “I’m so sorry. I truly don’t understand why she would do this. It must be some sort of a misunderstanding. My sister’s a good person. Yes, she’s had some issues in the past, but nothing like this. What’s going to happen to her?”

“Let’s just find them both first. If you think of anything else or if you hear from her again, please call me,” Agent Preston said, handing Nora her card.

They left and got back into Preston’s car.

“We’ll check the airports and bus and train stations. My guess is she’ll take a bus since that doesn’t require any identification. But she could be getting sloppy.”

“She could even hitchhike or have called someone to drive her. Then what? She could stay hidden forever,” Charlotte said.

Agent Preston turned and looked at her, steely determination in her eyes. “She’s not going to stay hidden. If I have to walk through hell and back, I’m going to find her.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

We arrive at the bus terminal with time to spare. Sebastion is fidgety and cranky.

“I’m tired. And it’s hot. I wanna go home.”

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