Read Online Stained by Cheryl Rainfield - Free Book Online Page B

punch him. “What are you doing to find her? Tell me what you’re doing!”
    I take a cautious step forward. I want to know, too.
    â€œWe’ve questioned that boy who bullied Sarah; he alibis out. So we’re tracking down new leads. We’ve put out an AMBER alert for Sarah. We’re getting roadblocks in place as we speak. Sarah’s description and photo have been sent to police stations around the country, and we’ve got people patrolling the roads. We’re doing everything we can to find her.”
    â€œToo little, too late,” Mr. Meadows says, rounding on the detective, his face haggard. “You should have been out looking for her hours ago! Who knows how much time has been wasted.”
    â€œAnd it’s not enough,” Mrs. Meadows says. She draws herself up taller, her face as pale as the snow. “I want us on every TV station, radio station, and newspaper that will have us. Websites, too. We’ve got to get the word out, appeal to whoever did this to Sarah.” She glares up at the detective. “Can you arrange that?”
    The detective looks humbled. “Yes, ma’am, I can.”
    â€œGood,” Mrs. Meadows says, nodding sharply. “Then do it.”
    I see where Sarah gets her brassiness from.
    The cop walks a few steps away, signaling to another officer talking on a radio.
    I edge closer, my throat dry. “Mrs. Meadows, Mr. Meadows—I want to help find Sarah. I’m good with computers. If you let me, I can set up a website with her photo, and ask people to send in tips. And I can put posters up in the neighborhood and at school. Maybe someone saw something that will help us get her back.”
    Mr. Meadows rubs a shaking hand across his eyes. “I design for a living. I can do the poster and get one of my team to do the website, but I’d sure appreciate your help—especially if you can get the bare bones up tonight. And you probably know more social networks to reach out to than we do.”
    â€œI’ll get on it right away.”
    Mrs. Meadows squeezes my hand. “Thank you, Nick. Come by anytime tonight, no matter what the hour. We’ll be up.” She smiles painfully.
    I’m surprised she remembers my name.
    â€œWhy don’t you just come work at our house?” Mr. Meadows says. “That is, if it’s all right with your parents.”
    â€œIt’ll be okay with my dad,” I say, my voice hoarse.
    Mr. Meadows nods, then walks to their car and opens the back door. “Then hop in.”
    Hang on, Sarah. We’re going to find you.

SARAH
    I CAN’T STAND THE stink of my own urine, the roughness of my jeans where I peed. I find my way to the door and shake it as hard as I can, but it is as firm and as unyielding as a wall. I don’t think I’m going to get out of here alive. I wish I hadn’t brushed Nick off this morning. Wish I hadn’t fought with Mom. Wish I’d told Dad how much I loved him, how nothing mattered as long as we were all together. There are so many things I would have done differently if I’d known today would be my last day.
    No.
    I can’t think like that. I’m going to get out of here. And when I get back home, I will do the things I wish I’d done.
    I shiver, my teeth chattering. I don’t want everything to end like this
. I don’t want to die.
I slide to the floor and crawl across, patting in front of me until I find the comforter. I wrap it around me, up to my nose, trying to get warm.
    Â 
    A sound jolts me awake. I sit up stiffly, clutching the comforter around me tighter. There’s a scrape of metal on metal, the thud of something moving aside.
    I leap to my feet and turn to face the sound, my legs trembling.
    The door opens, bringing a rush of cold air. The stench of Brian’s pine cologne assaults my nostrils.
    I charge toward the breeze, the sounds—and slam into a hard, lumpy protrusion, and then a warm