Carlson Melody - Stealing Bradford

“That’s not the point. Were you involved?”

“What difference does it make who was involved?”

“I just want to know.”

“What’s going on here, DJ?” demanded Casey. “Are you feeling sorry for Taylor now?”

“I just think that it was wrong to do that—I mean, to use MySpace to hurt someone like that.”

“How about how Taylor hurt Rhiannon? Was that right”

“No, but—”

“I don’t get you, DJ. You act like you care about Rhiannon, and then it’s like you’re obsessed with helping Taylor.”

“I just wanted to know if you were involved.”

“It feels like you’re turning against me.” Casey let out an exasperated sigh.

Of course, Casey’s defensiveness only increased DJ’s suspicions. Not that she’d know what to do if she discovered that Casey was the culprit. Still, she felt badly for Taylor. And when she got home, she felt somewhat reassured to know that the other girls at Carter House were starting to feel a little uneasy about Taylor too.

“So you guys didn’t see her at all this afternoon?” Eliza asked DJ and Casey.

“Not since US History,” said DJ. “Same as you.”

“Maybe you should check in your room,” suggested Kriti. “See if it looks like she’s packed up or taken anything.”

“Good idea,” said DJ. “It had occurred to me that Taylor might’ve called her mom and gotten on the next flight to LA. By the way, has anyone mentioned this to Mrs. Carter yet?”

They all said no.

“We thought we’d leave that to you,” said Eliza.

“Thanks a lot,” said DJ. Then she went to check in their room. But everything looked pretty normal—no signs that Taylor had taken anything. All her things seemed to be in place.

“How about her Vespa?” asked DJ when she came out of her room. “Did you check to see if it’s still here?”

“Good idea,” said Rhiannon.

So they all hurried downstairs and went outside to look, but the Vespa was gone.

“It’s not very nice motor-scooter weather,” pointed out Kriti. The sky was dark with clouds now, and a few raindrops were just beginning to fall.

“I’m going out to look for her,” announced DJ. “If I’m not back in time for dinner, make an excuse to Mrs. Carter for me.” As she went upstairs to get her bag and her keys, she hoped that someone might offer to join her in the search. But no one did. Although they did seem somewhat curious as to Taylor’s whereabouts, DJ didn’t get the sense that they were overly concerned with her welfare. And perhaps she shouldn’t be either. If anyone could take care of herself, it was Taylor. But then DJ remembered that sad, lost look on Taylor’s face today. And she remembered what Taylor had confided to her last night. And, despite not wanting to care, she was worried.

“I’ll be praying for you,” said Rhiannon as DJ came down the stairs. “I’d come with you, but if you found Taylor, she might prefer that I wasn’t around, you know?”

DJ nodded. “You’re probably right.” So she got in her car and drove around town, checking at the coffee shops and even the nearby mall, and finally along the docks and down by the beach, but she didn’t spot the lime green Vespa anywhere. She tried Taylor’s phone again and, as before, it went straight through to voicemail. Either Taylor’s battery was dead or her phone was turned off. By the time DJ got home, it was raining hard.

“Don’t worry, DJ, she’s probably perfectly fine,” said Eliza as she and the other girls met DJ in the foyer to find out whether or not she’d had success.

“Probably holed up in some cozy spot just wanting to get everyone all worked up and freaked out,” added Casey.

“Or maybe she did fly home,” said Rhiannon hopefully. “Maybe she’ll send for her things later.”

DJ hoped they were right. The image of Taylor riding around in the rain on her Vespa seemed pretty dismal, not to mention dangerous.

“Where is Taylor?” asked Mrs. Carter when everyone was seated at dinner.

All the girls admitted that they didn’t know, and then Mrs. Carter simply shrugged. “I do not mind if you girls miss dinner. I only ask that you exercise good etiquette and let us know accordingly.”

Dinner was unusually quiet, and DJ wondered if they were all waiting for her to tell Mrs. Carter the news. But DJ had already decided that it would be best to wait until after dinner. Plus, that would give Taylor more time to get back, that is if she planned to return.

“May I speak with you privately?” DJ asked her grandmother as the table was finally beginning to clear.

Mrs. Carter looked surprised and then nodded yes.

When they were both seated in her office, DJ told her grandmother the whole story, starting with the boyfriend-stealing incident, the website smut, and eventually, the fact that Taylor and her Vespa both seemed to be missing.

“No one has seen her since noon,” DJ finally admitted.

“Oh my.” Mrs. Carter looked seriously worried now. “Do you think she’s all right, Desiree?”

DJ considered this. “Probably, but I don’t know for sure. She did seem upset.”

“Where could she possibly be?”

“I drove all over town looking for her, and I’ve tried her cell phone several times, but she’s not answering.”

“Do you think I should call the police?”

DJ wasn’t sure what to say. “How about calling her mother first?”

Mrs. Carter sighed deeply. “I don’t know…I hate to alarm her if it’s nothing.”

“I actually wondered if Taylor might’ve called her mom already,” said DJ. “Maybe she’s on a flight home right this minute.”

“Goodness, I hope not. But surely her mother would’ve informed me if that were the case.”

“You’d think so.”

“I don’t believe one can file a missing person report unless the person has been gone for twenty-four hours.”

DJ felt shocked. “Are you really going to call the police?”

“Not tonight.”

“But what about her mother? She has a right to know.” DJ felt extremely frustrated now. Why didn’t her grandmother know this? And why was DJ feeling so responsible now? This wasn’t really her problem. It was her grandmother who was responsible for the welfare of the girls who were under her care. Didn’t she get it?

“I suppose…” Still Mrs. Carter didn’t seem convinced.

“Look,” said DJ with all the authority she could muster. “If something is wrong, like if Taylor’s been in an accident or something, and you don’t call her mother, don’t you think she’ll be angry?”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“Or, if Taylor is on her way home, wouldn’t you like to know before you embarrass everyone by calling the police?”

“Yes, Desiree, you are probably right. I will call her mother immediately. Thank you.”

DJ took this as her cue to leave, but because she felt invested in this dilemma, she decided to stay. “Go ahead and call her,” she said. “I don’t mind waiting.” And she waited as her grandmother looked up the number and finally called. She could tell she was uncomfortable dispensing such unfortunate information, but, as always, she handled it gracefully and carefully, and DJ could tell by her responses that Taylor’s mother had no idea what was going on or where Taylor might be.

“Of course, Eva. And I’ll let you know as soon as she comes in. Yes, you are probably right. I’m sure she’s simply taking some time to cool off.” She paused to listen. “Yes, I understand how teen girls can be. It’s a difficult time.” Then she thanked her and hung up.

“So, she’s not on her way home?”

“Apparently not.”

“But her mom’s not too concerned?”

“She said that Taylor’s been known to take off like that before when something upsets her. But she always comes back.”