Page 147 of After Anna

“Hello, can I help you? I’m Mercer Cooperman, one of the editors onThe Zephyr.”

“Yes, thanks.” Maggie introduced herself, Caleb, and Kathy. “I’m Anna Desroches’s mother, and she was a student here until last year. I’m afraid she’s gone missing. We’ve spoken with Morris Whitaker, and they’re dealing with the police, but we want to ask a few questions too, on our own.”

Kathy interjected, “It’s a mom thing.”

“I get it. My mom would too. Come on in. I’ve just put the Winter Issue to bed. It was supposed to be published before Thanksgiving, but poets don’t follow deadlines.” Mercer opened the door, admitting them to a funky entrance hall with a pair of lime-green-velvet armchairs, next to a wood coffee table piled with books.

“Thanks so much. Are you a senior, Mercer? Did you know Anna?”

Mercer shut the door. “Yes, I met her once or twice. I’m so sorry she’s gone missing.”

“You met her?” Maggie asked, encouraged. “Here or at Parker? Or in classes?”

“I think I had French Lit with her, but mostly, she’d stop by the office with Jamie Covington.”

“Yes, they were friends.” Maggie felt like they were onto something. “Did you know Jamie?”

“Not well, she was kind of a loner. Is she coming back to school?”

“I don’t know. Do you know where she went?”

“No, I just heard she dropped out of school.” Mercer puckered her lower lip. “She was so talented.”

“Do you know PG or Connie, who were friends of Jamie’s and Anna’s?”

“Hmm, not Connie, but PG sounds familiar.” Mercer frowned in thought. “Oh wait, I remember PG. She was a friend of Jamie’s. She called herself PG for Ponygirl, after Ponyboy.”

“Who’s Ponyboy?”

“Ponyboy fromThe Outsiders? The novel? We read it in middle school.”

Kathy interjected, “I know that book. My sons read it in Language Arts. Ponyboy is the hero. He’s the poor kid in the town, one of the Greasers, and the rich kids are called the Socs.”

Caleb looked up. “‘Stay gold, Ponyboy.’”

“Right!” Mercer grinned down at him. “That’s from the book.”

“Good for you, honey.” Maggie hugged Caleb to her side. “Mercer, are you saying you remember PG? Did you meet her?”

“No, she didn’t go here, but I remember Jamie talking about her because of the Ponygirl story.”

“Do you know where PG is? Where did she go to school?”

“I assume she went to public school, Congreve High. She was a waitress at Eddie’s. I think that’s where Jamie met her. Jamie liked to eat there to get off campus, but it’s bad food. Everything’s fried.”

“Is Eddie’s in town?” Maggie felt her heart start to pound.

“No, it’s in Tipton, one town north. It’s Eddie’s Diner, like a truck stop but nicer.”

“How long does it take to get there?”

“Twenty minutes in nice weather, but in this snow, an hour. Mainers will tell you a place is ‘just down the road.’ But that means, like, hours.”

“We’d better go. Thank you so much.” Maggie reached for the doorknob. “You’ve been so helpful.”

“Yes, thanks,” Kathy said, right behind her.

***