Page 42 of Little Child Gone

Nikki changed tactics. “You understand that I already know what happened, right? I’d like to hear your version of events.”

Adrian’s eyes flashed, but before he could speak, Holly stepped in. “If you can’t cooperate, we can go down to Principal Carlson’s office.”

He glared at her for a moment. “I asked his sister out. He didn’t like it because she’s younger.”

Nikki waited, her eyes locked with Adrian’s. His expression sank as he realized he wasn’t in control right now. “Fine. I was shitty when she turned me down. She lied and said her parents wouldn’t let her date, and that’s bullshit. I know better.”

“Really?” Nikki asked. “How would you know better?”

“She and my little sister have some classes together in middle school,” Adrian said. “My sister said that Amelia left a pregnancy test in the bathroom trash.”

Holly and Ms. Farber gasped. Nikki didn’t flinch. “Did your sister see Amelia put the test in the trash?”

“No, but she’d been the only one in the bathroom and it was on the top.”

“That your sister knew of,” Nikki said. “I don’t know off the top of my head how many girls attend her middle school, but that test could have belonged to anyone. Unless your sister’s a hall monitor and kept track of everyone using the restroom?”

Adrian’s cheeks turned red. “No. But when I confronted Amelia about it, I could tell it was true.”

He might be telling the truth. Nikki needed to speak with Amelia in private. But Adrian didn’t need to know any of that. Amelia had told him no, and that should have been the end of it. “You and Taylor still had issues even after the suspension, correct?”

“We stay away from each other.”

Ms. Farber shifted on her feet, rubbing her temples. “I’m sorry, I have a migraine, and these hall lights make it worse. Can we wrap this up?”

Nikki almost told the teacher to go back in and do her job since Holly had stayed with them. “I’m almost done. Adrian, what time did you leave school yesterday?”

His jaw twitched. “Hockey practice is at three. It was done at five thirty. I was home before six p.m.”

“What did you do between the time school let out and practice?”

“Went to Culver’s with a couple of friends. Got some fries and a shake. You can check my receipts.”

“I will.” Nikki didn’t know if this kid was involved, but she didn’t like his attitude. “We’ll check Culver’s security cameras, too, and we’re looking at all the CCTV around the school and surrounding area. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yup.” Adrian’s hands were back in his pockets. “I’m telling the truth.”

“We’re done here.” Ms. Farber took Adrian’s elbow and guided him towards the math room. The door shut behind them.

“Is she a friend of the family?” Nikki asked.

“I have no idea,” Holly said. “She’s got a reputation for being difficult, though.”

Nikki checked her messages during the walk back to the principal’s office. Chen hadn’t returned her call, but Liam had spoken to public transit and airport officials in Indianapolis, as well as requesting flight logs from all flights between Minneapolis and Indianapolis since yesterday afternoon, just in case Taylor had paid cash for a ticket. So far, Liam hadn’t found any evidence that Taylor had gone back to his hometown.

As they neared the front office, Miller’s angry voice carried down the hall. He paced in front of the office, barking into the phone.

“What’s going on?” Holly asked the principal.

Principal Carlson flushed. “Taylor’s final period yesterday had a sub. We didn’t realize he’d skipped until the teacher arrived this morning and looked at the sub’s notes.” She sighed in frustration. “First time we’ve had this sub. He’s fresh out of school, and I had a bad feeling about his attitude.”

“Not your fault.” No point in berating the school staff, but that missing hour could change the course of the investigation. Nikki turned to Miller, who’d just ended his call. “I assume you’re having more CCTV pulled?”

Miller nodded. “I’ve got Deputy Reynolds pulling footage an hour earlier and checking the routes. I’m also having them look at older videos to verify his usual path to work. Hopefully we’ll have the information shortly.”

Nikki liked Chief Deputy Reynolds. She had worked with him on a few cases and had been impressed by his calm demeanor and focus on detail. She motioned for Miller to follow her into the hall for privacy.

“What did the band people say?” he asked.

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