Page 123 of Sing with Me

Ethan refused to say.

“You better tell your daddy,” Mom said.

“Shhh.” Diehl turned to Mom. “Why don’t you go to bed and let me talk to Ethan?”

Mom walked out of the kitchen. “Good night, y’all.”

“Is Grandma mad at me?” Ethan’s lips quivered.

“No. She’s just tired and needs to get some sleep, you know?” Diehl hoped it was true.

Ethan nodded.

“Son, you remember when you were learning to wear big boy pants?” Diehl asked.

“I was growing up.”

“Yes, you were. Now I’m asking you to grow up here.” Diehl pointed to his head.

Ethan’s jaw dropped. “You want me to wear big boy pants on my head?”

Diehl choked. “No, that’s not what I meant. I want you to grow up overall. Like Dad is a grownup. So I’m speaking to you like you’re a young man growing up.”

“Oh. Okay. Whatever that means.”

“It means that your sister is missing, and we’re doing everything we can to find her. We need to put on our thinking caps and try to remember everything that can help find your sister before something bad happens to her.”

Ethan nodded. “Skye said that God knows where Elisa is.”

“Yes, He does.”

“And that God will keep her safe.”

“Yes, while we try our best to find her. Are you with me?” Diehl put out a fist.

“Okay.” Ethan gave Diehl a fist bump.

“So. Let’s talk. What did you hear one week ago last Saturday night?” Diehl asked again.

Ethan made a face, like he was in deep thought. “Elisa was talking to someone on her phone.”

“Who was this person?” Diehl wanted to ask if it was a friend from her school in Hawaii, but he didn’t want to lead the witness. “Did it sound like anyone we know?”

“I couldn’t hear that part. I only heard Elisa’s voice.”

“Makes sense.” Diehl wondered why Ethan was eavesdropping on his sister. However, he recalled that when he had been in middle school himself, younger sister Brinley had often dropped in unannounced in his room to see what he and Parker were doing. Often they were talking about girls at school, but most of them might have been Brinley’s friends or classmates. She hated it that they wouldn’t let her in on their little conversations.

“What did Elisa talk about on the phone?” Diehl asked.

“I don’t remember.” His words were curt.

Hiding something? “It might help the police find her.”

“Is she in danger?” Ethan asked.

“Yes.” Diehl believed so.

“She talked to Romina.”

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