You Can Run by Norah McClintock

together, even though it turned out that any interruption (gale-force hurricane, house-sucking tornado) would have been welcome. My mother was not in the mood to talk about anything. Nick’s message said he had to make a stop downtown after school tomorrow, on his way back to Somerset. He told me where he was going to be and asked if I could meet him. He said if I couldn’t make it, it was no big deal. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
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    . . .
    The next morning, I had a dentist appointment, which meant that I didn’t have to go to school first thing. By the time my teeth were gleaming, it was almost noon, so instead of going directly back to school, I stopped by my father’s place. I was pretty sure Mr. Jarvis had said something to him about Nick. I wanted to ask him what it was. I wanted to do it in person so that I could see his face if he started to get evasive.
    When he didn’t answer the buzzer, I let myself in. He wasn’t there, so I made myself some lunch. He still hadn’t appeared by the time I finished eating, so I went back downstairs. As I stepped out onto the sidewalk, a man got out of a car parked at the curb. Carl Hanover. He forced a smile, but there were dark lines under his eyes and he sounded tired when he greeted me. I pictured him sitting beside the telephone with his sick wife, both of them waiting for it to ring.
    â€œHi, Robyn,” he said. “I talked to your father the other day. He told me you were going to ask around at school to see if anyone had heard anything from Trisha or had any idea where she might be. I can’t tell you how much Denise and I appreciate that.”
    I said that I hadn’t been able to find out anything. I didn’t tell him about Kenny because I’d already struck out twice and I didn’t want to get his hopes up.
    â€œStill, we appreciate your help,” he said. He pulled an envelope from his pocket. “I was just going to drop these off for your father. I gave him a picture of Trisha, but it wasn’t a very good one. She never gets her picture taken at school. These are some snapshots her mother took. I thought they could be useful.”
    â€œHe isn’t home,” I said. “But if you want, I can give them to him later.”
    A genuine smile appeared on his sad, tired face. “Would you?” He handed the envelope to me. “Her mom can hardly sleep. She keeps hoping that Trisha will call, but so far nothing.” He shook his head. “I bet you never give your parents anything to worry about, do you, Robyn?”
    I said I wasn’t so sure about that.
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    . . .
    I looked for Morgan and Billy when I got to school. I had called Morgan a couple of times the night before, but she hadn’t called me back. I wondered if she was still mad at me. I had called Billy too, with the same result. I felt even worse about him. I was used to Morgan doing her drama queen thing. But I was not used to Billy looking so humiliated. I wanted to reassure myself that he was okay.
    I couldn’t find either of them.
    I was thinking about Morgan and Billy while I stood on the corner where Nick had said he’d meet me after school. I had arrived a few minutes early and was scanning the crowded streets for a tall, good-looking guy with his arm in a sling. Instead I spotted Kenny Merchant sauntering down the street toward me. After talking to Alison, I was sure that if anyone had an idea where Trisha was, it would be Kenny. He was close enough to touch now, but he still didn’t notice me—until I stepped out in front of him.
    â€œHey,” he said, annoyed to find an obstacle in his path. Then he recognized me. He shook his head.
    â€œI need to talk to Trisha and I think you know where she is,” I said.
    He kept walking, as if he hadn’t heard me. I grabbed him by the arm.
    â€œCome on, Kenny, it’s important. If you don’t—”
    â€œIf I don’t,