Page 73 of Missing White Woman

“Bree, where are you?”

“Sorry.”

“I was saying the pic’s probably some poor Black woman who doesn’t even look like you.”

“It does, though,” I said. “Exactly like me.”

Thank God we were at a light because her head swung in my direction. “The police hauled you into the station last night?”

“I went there to talk to Calloway.”

She didn’t say anything but didn’t have to. I’d seen that same expression on the face of my mother. Disappointment.

“She wasn’t there, though.” I spoke quickly, just like I had done as a kid. As if saying something fast enough would negate the words themselves. “So I left a note.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you would’ve tried to talk me out of it. I’m pretty sure my Uber driver’s the one who ratted me out. He’s definitely getting zero stars.”

“This is not funny.”

I spoke. “You knew I was gonna get doxed.” Adore. Always right.

“Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it.”

“But it does mean you’ve thought about what to do.” I sounded hopeful.

She finally turned away from me. “I already DMed Billie.”

Good thing I wasn’t driving because I would’ve slammed on the brakes. But the car kept going, slow AF too. Adore didn’t say more, just kept her eyes on the road like she really had to concentrate.

“You sent the Airbnb screenshots?”

She nodded but didn’t say any actual words.

“And?” I prodded her along.

“And I haven’t checked to see if she responded. It’s only been a couple hours. I’m sure she’s swimming in DMs.”

She’d left her cell in the cup holder. I reached for it. “What’s your passcode?”

“I can do it when we get back to my place.”

“That’s like a whole five minutes away.” When she didn’t crack a smile, I kept on. “I’m not gonna check any other messages.”

“Fine, I’ll do it at the next light.”

But God had a sense of humor. We cruised past two consecutive greens before hitting a yellow. I took in a breath, thinking Adore would stop. Instead, she sped up, hitting the intersection just as it turned red. Something was up.

“You just sent the screenshots?” I finally said.

Nothing.

I tried again. “No mention of anyone else who lived on the block?”

“You said yourself that Drew guy was most likely to have access to the house.”

“And then I said we needed actual proof before we brought his name up.”