Page 31 of Dead Man's Hollow
“We received information that there was a fight at the end of the night between some of your classmates and the group from Allderdice.”
“It must have happened after I left. Was the fight about Heather talking to that guy?”
“We don’t know yet. There’s nothing in the police records about the fight. In fact, there’s nothing in the records about the kids from Allderdice at all.”
She frowns. “I know I told the police there were kids from other schools there. But I didn’t know any of them, so there wasn’t much to say.”
“Aside from this boy who liked her dancing, did you see Heather talking to anyone else from a different school?”
Amy thinks for a moment before answering. “No.”
“Who would know about the fight?”
“I’m not sure. Rich, maybe? But I don’t know why he wouldn’t have told the police about it—or at least his brother, if he didn’t want to be the one to dime out our friends.”
Maisy hesitates, not sure whether to trust Amy, but decides she has no real choice. “Nobody wanted to dime out their friends, apparently. It seems clear the statements were deliberately conformed, as if everyone got together to get their story straight before they talked to the police. Do you know anything about that?”
Amy shakes her head miserably. “No, but I wouldn’t have been part of that. I mean, we were dealing with our own stuff. But it wouldn’t surprise me if everyone stuck to the same story so they wouldn’t get in trouble.”
“Sure, maybe, before they realized how serious the situation was,” Maisy agrees. “But your sister’s been gone for thirty years. If everyone lied, why hasn’t anyone come forward?”
Amy looks pained. “Maybe they think it wouldn’t make a difference? And anyway, someone did come forward, right? Your tipster.”
Amy must know this vague information is too little, too late. But the damage is done. Maisy motions for Jordana to stop recording and waits until she removes her headphones and gives a nod.
Then she says, “Talk to Rich. Ask him if he knows anything about the fight or any of the kids from other schools. We’ll also see if we can find out who the anonymous tipsters are and convince them to go on the record. For now, my plan is still to move forward with Kristy’s interview next week and save you for last.”
“You said tipsters, plural.”
“Whoever sent the email used ‘we’ not ‘I.’”
Amy arches an eyebrow. “Start with Lynn Argyle and Michelle Boland. They were best friends in high school and they’re still best friends all these years later. They were both there that night, and I can see them putting their heads together and deciding to come clean.”
Jordana types the names into her phone while Maisy gathers her purse. As she stands to leave, she says, “Thanks for the iced tea.”
Amy reaches across and catches her by the wrist. “Wait, I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you everything.”
“Me, too. I can’t find her if you’re not completely honest with me.”
“I know.”
She gives Amy a close look. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
Amy sighs. “Heather went through a wild phase right before she disappeared. Nothing major, but I guess you should know.”
“For example?”
“She got into a fight with this girl in her gym class. She insisted Kelly stole her bracelet, and she retaliated by spray painting her car. And I don’t know if this is true, but there was a rumor that when Boys for You played a concert in Pittsburgh, she went to their hotel after the show.”
“To catch a glimpse of them in the lobby?” Jordana asks.
“No, the way I heard it, Heather and her friends went up to their room and partied with them.”
“Do these friends have names?”
Amy grimaces. “I don’t see any reason to embarrass a bunch of middle-aged moms. I mean, the concert was months before she went missing. I’m just telling you Heather was rebelling a little. At the time, I didn’t think there was any reason to drag her name through the mud, and I still don’t. But maybe she got mixed up with the wrong people.”
“What do you mean?” Maisy asks. “Do you think she was human trafficked? Involved in drugs? Followed Boys for You around the country?”
