Read Online Fly Away by Nora Rock - Free Book Online

Barb and Sharon have asked that we withdraw from tomorrow’s competition. Quitting is not usually an option for a Soar team. But as we discussed last month, we enrolled in this competition as a warm-up for provincials. Based on our standing today, the best finish we could attain, if we stayed for tomorrow’s round, would be third place. And we’d need to be close to perfect to do that. So I’m going to put it to a vote. Girls in favor of withdrawing, please raise your hands.”
    Ten hands went up, and I could see that Amy Jo, one of the three holdouts with Shona and me, was wavering. Lucy elbowed her in the ribs. “The sooner we get home,” Lucy whispered, “the sooner we can start calling around to Arielle’s friends.”
    Amy Jo looked away from Shona and raised her hand. Shona and I were the only holdouts.
    â€œThat’s eleven out of thirteen,” said Coach. “I’ll go talk to the judges.”
    Before we left town, we used Jada’s laptop and the photo Ari’s parents had sent to put together a Missing Person poster. We had a bunch printed at a copy shop, and we plastered them all over the conference center and the neighborhood near the hotel. While we were postering, I sidled up to Shona.
    â€œWhat was that bus you were talking about?”
    â€œWhat bus?” She frowned at me, obviously still furious that we’d pulled out of the competition.
    â€œYou said Arielle was probably on the number fifty-two bus already. Is that a real bus? How do you know about it?”
    â€œIt’s the northbound bus. To the art gallery. You know, for the field trip that Arielle cared about more than she cared about this competition.”
    I ignored the dig. “But how do you know about that bus?”
    â€œMy grandparents live in Stouffville,” she said. “Not far from here. They used to take me to a store in North York to buy my gymnastics outfits. For competitions.”
    Well, I thought, aren’t you special. But all I said was, “Oh.”

chapter fifteen
    It was 7:00 PM by the time we reached Stratford. After our night out with the basketball players, and the long day’s drama, it felt like midnight to me. It was a relief to see my father’s car pull into the Soar Club lot. Dad got out to load my bags. To my surprise, he gave me a long, tight hug before climbing back into the car. I guess the news of Arielle’s disappearance hit close to home.
    â€œAre you hungry, hon?” he asked. “Want to hit a drive-thru or something?”
    â€œNo, thanks,” I said. “I just want to go home to bed.”
    â€œI should warn you, sweetie,” my dad said, “we got a call from the police. They want you to come to the station tomorrow for an interview.”
    â€œDo I have to?” I asked.
    â€œWell,” he said, “I’m not sure you have to. But I guess they think you could be of some help, if they decide to start a search.”
    â€œOkay,” I sighed.
    A couple of hours later, I was watching TV in my pajamas when the phone rang. It was Arielle’s mother, calling for me. She wanted to know if I could come by to talk. “Her paintings are gone, Marnie,” she told me.
    I went up to my room to change back into my clothes.
    â€œWhere are you going, sweetie?” asked my mom.
    â€œAri’s mother wants to talk to me,”
    I said. “Can you drive me over there?”
    I’d tried to keep the fatigue out of my voice, but I couldn’t hide those things from my mom. She put her arms around me in the hallway, and then she held me out at arm’s length. “Listen, Marnie, you tell Mrs. Kuypers that if there’s anything I can do to help, she should give me a call. I can’t imagine what she’s going through right now.”
    I nodded in agreement and then stepped out the door to warm up the car for my mom. When I got to the Kuypers’ house, Arielle’s mom