The Babysitter Murders - By Janet Ruth Young Page 0,47

She imagines his face in the moment of her murdering him. She imagines waking him up and saying, “I’m going to kill you.” Him realizing in the last seconds of his life that he was wrong; she’s not his protector. Here in the woods she has T H E B A B Y S I T T E R M U R D E R S

no way to hurt Alex. That’s good. But she has no way to check on him either. If only she were in touch with Beth. She could ask her to drive past his house and see if he’s okay.

She’ll walk around again today. Then maybe tonight the people who threw the rock will find her. Or the coyotes will come looking for her. Either way it would be for the best. Dani Solomon could run forever and she would still have the thoughts. It would be better for everyone if Dani Solomon never went back home.

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Shelley finds a note in her locker:

I hope your day is better than yesterday.

It has a heart drawn at the bottom.

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The Dogg House

Sniffing Out That Babysitter

Your blog host: Sheepdogg

No one seems to know the whereabouts of Dani Solomon. But we all know that if someone truly wants to go missing, there is only one place in Hawthorne to hide.

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Gordy gets a call on his land line from a newspaper offering to pay him for information about Dani. Then he gets a call on his cell phone that appears to be from Dani, but instead it’s Dani’s mother, asking if he has any idea who she might be staying with. “If you know where she is but you’re not allowed to tell me,” Beth asks, “at least let me know if she’s safe.”

Gordy says he’s sorry, but he doesn’t know anything. “I wish we could have met under other circumstances,” he tells Beth before she hangs up.

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To: Rowdie

From: Sheepdogg

No breaks yet. But I suggest you try Havenswood.

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Message on Dani Death’s MyFace page:

I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO HELP

YOU AND PROTECT YOU.

PLEASE COME HOME.

MOM

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Malcolm Pinto and his father sit in front of the TV with

a plate of nachos.

“Here it comes,” says Officer Pinto. “Turn it up louder.”

Malcolm raises the volume with the remote.

“Oh my God, look at them all,” Pinto says. The town is holding a press conference for the Boston news media.

Sergeant Mason stands up first. He’s wearing his dress uniform with the blazer and hat, the same one he wears in parades.

“Color me douche,” says Pinto. Malcolm laughs.

“Thank you for taking the time from your busy investigative schedules.”—some of the reporters laugh at that—”to be with us today. This is going to be short and sweet. Daniela Solomon has not been charged with any crime. She is not being sought in connection with any crime. Daniela Solomon is being sought as a missing person, in the interests of her own safety, not because of any involvement in a crime.” He glances at the police chief, who motions to him to sit down.

“Lap dog,” Pinto comments. Malcolm makes a panting noise.

Beth Solomon stands up next.

“Whoa, BetSo is bringing it,” Pinto says. “Look at that little suit.”

“She looks so commanding,” Malcolm agrees. “Like she’s pres-ident or something.”

JANET RUTH YOUNG

Beth glances at a prosperous-looking man beside her.

“He must be her lawyer,” Pinto says. “Boston, probably. Big bucks there.”

“My daughter, Daniela, has the same rights as any citizen of Hawthorne, of Massachusetts, and of the United States,” Beth begins. “If you are a parent”—she looks right into the camera—

”you understand some of the pain and anxiety that Dani’s depar-ture has caused me.”

“Dani caused someone pain,” says Pinto. “Shocker.”

“Dani, please come home,” Beth says, her eyes watering into the camera like she’s on a Lifetime special. “You don’t have to be afraid to come back to Hawthorne. We can work everything out.

There are people who will help us. Coming home is the first step.”

“Look at those three,” Officer Pinto says, pointing to a woman and two men in the audience, all wearing camouflage. “This is bringing a lot of weirdos to town.” One of the men holds a sign above his head saying protect our kids. Malcolm realizes that this must be the New Hampshire contingent. He wonders if he should tell his father that he’s been corresponding with POK. But he doesn’t for now, because he likes having something of his own.

Now Chief Scola stands up. “It’s just one bad decision after another for that guy,” says Officer Pinto. The chief was