Read Online Dream Chasers by Barbara Fradkin - Free Book Online Page A

grateful that for once his socks had no holes in the toes. The living room had the same immaculate but worn look, with mended floral slipcovers and an ornate wooden crucifix over the sofa. He placed the bin on the coffee table and pried off the lid to reveal the contents, all now safely encased in plastic evidence bags.
    Marija peered into the bin. Clutching her hand to her throat, she sank onto the sofa beside it. “What happened to her?”
    â€œAll the clothes were neatly folded.” As you taught her, he thought to himself. “There were no signs of trouble or struggling, nothing to suggest she was hurt or taken by force. We think she left there voluntarily.”
    â€œBut why? Where did she go?”
    â€œWe don’t know yet. But we’ve got every available officer searching the beach, the park and all along the shoreline. We’ve brought in our canine unit too. As soon as anyone learns anything, I’ll let you know.” He paused and gestured to the bin. “But you can help us figure out what she might have been doing. Are all these items of clothing hers?”
    She nodded vigorously.
    â€œIs there anything missing? Except a white tank top, which we retained for the canine unit. And a notebook, which we took down to the station for analysis.”
    She fingered the bags and rooted around between them. “Her...ah, bra and panties.”
    Green recalled the skimpy white tank top. No nubile seventeenyear-old girl would even consider wearing a bra underneath, even if it could fit. But he sensed Marija was uncomfortable enough as it was. “What kind of bra and panties did she wear?”
    â€œWhite. I always buy her white. Perhaps she is wearing them?” She shook her head almost angrily, as if rejecting the evidence of her senses. “No. Lea would not leave her clothes and go away only with bra and panties.”
    â€œWhat about a bathing suit? Did she own one?”
    â€œShe has three bathing suits. She loves swimming.”
    â€œCan we look at them? See if any are missing?”
    She seemed to recover some composure at the possibility her daughter was not running around half-naked. Rising, she led the way down the narrow hall to a tiny bedroom at the back. It was freshly painted in Wedgwood blue, with matching blue flowered curtains and duvet—a marked contrast to Hannah’s “eggplant”—and to Green’s amazement, her clothing was all neatly folded in her drawers. The girl was abnormal!
    Marija emptied the contents of the top drawer on the bed and began to sort through the lingerie, all of it delicate but a practical white. She set aside first a red Speedo then a shapely black one-piece with virtually no back. She frowned.
    â€œHer new bikini,” she exclaimed in dismay. “It’s not here. I don’t like it, and I tell her that, but...” She shrugged in resignation. “Recently she wants to dress like all the other girls.”
    Green made a mental note. Romantic setting, warm summer evening, sexy bikini... This was all fitting together. “What colour is it?”
    â€œYellow and black. It’s very little, only covers...” Her voice faded awkwardly. “Lea says it is not good for swimming.”
    I don’t think swimming was foremost on her mind, Green thought. Marija had obviously made the same deduction, for she flushed as she busied herself folding the items back into the drawer.
    â€œIs she a good swimmer?” he asked. She nodded. “She is good at many things. She took lessons in the public pool.”
    â€œDiving too?” Marija looked up from her folding, startled.
    â€œWhat?” “Does she like to dive from the high diving board?”
    Marija frowned, and Green could see her trying to make sense of his question. Suddenly, fear raced across her face. “The falls? You think...”
    â€œI don’t think anything. I’m just looking at possibilities.”
    Marija