Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

rock that hit Ruth.”
    My father nodded. “That’s what she says.”
    â€œOnly that can’t be right.” Mrs. Taylor sighed. “A few days before Ruth got hurt, I caught Betty and Andy up in the belfry at recess. I shooed them out and then I locked the door that leads to the belfry stairs. It was still locked today when I tried it. And I have the only key right here.” She patted her pocketbook.
    â€œOne more lie,” my mother said quietly.
    â€œOne more
big
lie,” I said, trailing off as everyone turned to look at me. “What? It’s true. Betty didn’t see Toby do a thing. Betty’s a bully. She’s just mad at him because he told her to leave me alone.”
    My father took my hand. “It’s all right, Annabelle. You aren’t wrong. Betty had that lie already on her tongue because she’d been up in the belfry before and knew just what to say.”
    Mrs. Taylor sighed. “That does seem to fit.”
    â€œWould you please go tell that to Constable Oleska?” I said.
    She nodded. “I will,” she said. “But I wanted to come see you first. The Glengarrys are my friends, and I didn’t want to make an accusation without talking it out first.”
    â€œNo accusation about it,” my father said. “Just information. The constable will do with it what he can.”
    For days I’d been feeling as tense as a banjo string, twanging every time some new problem arose, but there were also moments of relief, like this one. Finally, maybe, people were beginning to understand what kind of person Betty really was.
    Mrs. Taylor stood up and we with her. “Betty didn’t come to school today. I imagine she’s home sick. Perhaps I should go by and speak with the Glengarrys first before I see the constable.”
    My mother shook her head. “We’ve been in your shoes, and lately. It won’t do any good. They are set on the idea that Betty has done nothing wrong.”
    Mrs. Taylor nodded. “I expect you’re right about that. Betty’s an . . . odd girl, but she’s their granddaughter.”
    We didn’t talk about the rest of it, how badly she had bullied me, how I suspected she and Andy had hurt James. But the lid was off, the worms were rearing their slick little heads, and they would soon be spilling out with their mucky secrets.
    I can’t say I was glad, exactly, but I wasn’t sorry.

CHAPTER TWELVE
    We were all in bed that night, the house dark, when we were awakened by pounding at our door. The dogs that generally slept in the woodshed were by now having a loud conversation with someone outside, and we could hear him talking back to them firmly.
    The rain had stopped, but the night outside our door was thick with wet air, and Constable Oleska looked like he wore a layer of spiderweb over his black raincoat. One or two dogs continued to question him, but they quieted down at a single word from my father, who stood in the doorway in his night things, my mother behind him tightening her robe, while I peeked around her, my brothers behind me, and Aunt Lily came marching to join us, her hair in rollers, her face angry.
    â€œAnd what is all this about now?” she said.
    I imagined my grandparents sitting up in their bed, hoping they wouldn’t have to join the fray.
    â€œVery sorry to wake you, John, Sarah . . . hello, Lily,” Constable Oleska said. “I know it’s late, but can I come in for a minute?”
    â€œOf course,” my father said. He stepped back to let the constable by.
    â€œI wouldn’t have come so late, but I’m afraid I couldn’t wait until morning,” the constable said. “Betty Glengarry has gone missing.”
    â€œMissing?” my father said.
    â€œYou’d better come on in and sit,” my mother said.
    â€œI’ll bet she got eaten by a bear,” James said, his hair sticking out in all