Page 22 of Our Daughter's Bones

“Yes, I discussed the basic details with Detective Armstrong. Some officers showed up yesterday and took statements as well. As I told them, Abby definitely attended school on Tuesday. A lot of people saw her leave on foot when school ended. I checked the attendance. I even remember seeing her after recess, heading to class.”

“You saw her on Tuesday?”

“Yes. I like to do my rounds around the school.” She fixed her glasses. “Also, I’ve been keeping my eye on Abby since Erica went missing. Poor girl took it hard. Around two months after that, she walked out of Algebra. I found her crying hysterically in the bathroom.”

“They were best friends?”

“They were.”

“Was she acting any different on Tuesday?”

She shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I’m not particularly close to any of the students. But by all accounts, she has been disturbed for around a year now.”

“Is there anyone she was close to? Other than Erica?”

Burley bit her lower lip. “I don’t know, I’m afraid. But let me think. She did see our counselor, Ian Coleman, a few times.”

“Coleman?” The name was familiar. It took her a few seconds to remember that she had seen the name on Abby’s bottle of antidepressants.

“You can speak to him. I can direct you to his office.”

“Sure. Also, could you open Abby’s locker for us? We could get a warrant, but I was hoping you would be cooperative.”

“Of course!” She pressed her hand to her chest. “Anything to help you find our students. Please follow me. Her locker is right here.”

A crowd was beginning to gather in the hallway. Students stood with their backpacks around Abby’s locker. Burley turned around and raised her voice. “Keep walking!”

They scattered like rats fleeing a sinking ship.

A locker across from Abby’s was decorated with flowers and messages written in Sharpie. A framed picture of Erica rested against it on the floor.

“Erica’s locker,” Mackenzie mumbled.

“Yes, it was very kind of the students to leave encouraging messages for her.”

Waiting for you, Erica!

We miss you.

We’ll never give up on you!

Stay strong, Erica.

“That’s thoughtful of them.” Mackenzie crossed her arms. “How’re you going to open the locker?”

Burley pulled out a key and waved it proudly. “Master key opens all the lockers.” She twisted the lock. The door opened with a low creak. “Here you go.”

“Thank you, Joanne. We’ll take it from here.” Mackenzie gave her a pressing look as she pulled on latex gloves.

Burley faltered but then nodded vehemently. “Of course. Got it. I’ll be in my office if you need anything. Dr. Coleman’s office is just down the hall on the left.”

She wobbled away in her high heels. Mackenzie pitied the future of her ankles.

Abby’s locker was sparse but organized. Stacks of books were piled on the top shelf. There was a spare hooded sweatshirt and a towel hanging up. A pencil case revealed stationery only; no scribbled notes from fellow students. Mackenzie pulled out a tattered notebook that looked different from the others. Scanning the pages briefly, she saw the wordsDear diary.It looked like her private journal. She held on to it.

“Pretty standard locker,” Justin said.

“Yeah.” Mackenzie clicked her tongue. “I was expecting boy band stickers, but this is very minimalist.”