search the grounds,” he says. “I think you should help.”
“We’re waiting for the police,” Ginny says. “They’ll look.”
I take a step toward her as though getting closer will enable me to understand why she’s acting like this. “You’ll look. Now.”
“Yes,” Malcolm agrees, to my surprise. “If the gate was open…Well, we should do as much as we can to determine if she’s on the grounds. It could take the police hours to search. We should start.”
“Someone has to wait for the police,” Ginny says.
“If you want to sit around while she’s out there alone, go right ahead.” I don’t bother to wait for her to stammer out another selfish response. But it works. Ginny follows us to the door.
“Felix, can you update the officers?” Sterling asks before we step outside. He nods grimly.
“But perhaps I should go with you,” he suggests.
“Someone does need to be here. In case she comes back,” Sterling says. Ginny glares at him, her mouth twisting like she wants to spit venom. He ignores her. “We should split up. Malcolm and I will work our way to the gates. You two start toward the back.”
“Who put you in charge—” Ginny starts.
“For fuck’s sake, Virginia, just listen to him,” Malcolm cuts her off before I can. She falls silent instantly.
I don’t wait for more instructions. Pulling my phone out, I turn on its flashlight and start around the conservatory wing.
“This is all ridiculous. We aren’t going to find her in the dark,” Ginny says. “Someone took her. That’s why he’s distracting us, so they can get away.”
I whirl on her. “Neither of us would do anything to harm our daughter. She is everything to us!”
“Everything? He’s known about her for what? Five minutes?” she scoffs. “I can’t believe Malcolm is listening to either of you—”
My palm cracks across her face so hard that her head flies to the side. I’ve been holding in that slap for years. Her own hand flies to her face protectively as she glares at me, rubbing at the imprint of my palm on her cheek.
“You vicious bitch,” she shrieks. “I don’t—”
I don’t wait for her to finish the thought. “I’m going this way. We need to split up, remember?”
I stalk off towards the pool house, redirecting all my energy to finding Ellie. As I get closer to the pool, my breathing becomes shallow before it catches altogether. A dark shadow floats on its surface, lit from below by the underwater lights. I force myself to move closer, as my feet fight me the entire way. I’m a few steps from the edge when I realize someone’s left a pool lounger floating in the water. I exhale with relief. Shining my flashlight around the area I catch a glimpse of movement.
It’s Ginny, heading toward the stables. It’s a strange choice, given that we got rid of the horses years ago when I stopped riding, but I guess if Ellie is hiding, it’s a good spot. At least Ginny is finally doing something productive. Sterling’s words bounce around my head, and I find myself following her, flashlight off, keeping enough of a distance that she doesn’t spot me. I’m certain he’s doing the same with Malcolm. She pauses at the stable door, glancing around her, and I duck behind a tree trunk. Once she’s inside, I creep toward the door, peeking through it to find her unbolting the door to a stall. She steps through.
“Ellie!” she calls and I move out of sight again as her voice rises with more panic. “Ellie!”
She tears out of the stable so quickly that she doesn’t see me lurking in the shadows. Ginny rushes toward the house, and I duck into the stables, going to the stall she opened. There’s a blanket and pillow, along with a granola bar wrapper and a juice box. Lying next to it is Buddy Bear and an overnight bag.
I stare for a long time at the scene, replaying how Ginny came here instantly—to this stall, to unlock this door. It’s not a coincidence. I just don’t understand it, and I don’t have time to figure it out. It’s clear Ginny expected to find Ellie here. Another wave of nausea hits me at the thought, and I battle memories of the night at the cheap motel. Ginny’s never had an issue endangering Ellie to get what she wants.
How could I have left my daughter with her, even for a moment?