Read Online Through the Door by Jodi McIsaac - Free Book Online Page A

Cedar yelled into the phone, “Jane, she’s not here! Where is she?”
    “I don’t know,” Jane wailed. “Honest to God, Cedar, I’m not making this up. I don’t know how I got here. I remember you asking me to look after her; I remember driving over to your place, but that’s it. After that, I woke up feeling like I had been drugged or something, and I was in Times Square of all the bloody places. I wasn’t robbed or anything; I still have my wallet on me, thank God. But she’s not here with me, not as far as I can tell. Ceeds, I’m freaking out here. What’s happening?”
    Cedar was so panicked she could hardly speak. “Just come home as soon as you can. And call me if you remember anything.” Jane promised to be on the first flight home, and Cedar could hear her trying to hail a cab. Then Cedar hung up.
    “Why did you leave her?”
    Maeve was standing in the empty doorway to Eden’s room. The doors were still off their hinges—all except for one. Jane had insisted Cedar put the bathroom door back on when she had arrived to watch Eden.
    “Why did you leave her alone, knowing what she could do?” Maeve repeated.
    “I was looking for answers,” Cedar said in a strangled voice. “And I didn’t leave her alone. I left her with Jane.”
    “Jane isn’t…” Maeve shook her head as if to clear it. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter; what’s done is done. I’ll tell the others to leave. Then we’ll talk about what we should do to find her.”
    “We need to call the police!” Cedar said frantically, her voice still shaking. “Can you call them? I can’t think straight.”
    Maeve spoke slowly. “I don’t think calling the police is the best idea. First, we need to get rid of the people in your living room. Then we’ll decide what to do.”
    Cedar followed her mother into the living room, where Riona and Rohan were standing. Riona immediately came to her side. “It’s going to be okay, Cedar,” she said, putting an arm around her. “We’re going to do whatever we can to help you. I’m sure it was all just an accident. Eden will be home safe before you know it.”
    Maeve cleared her throat loudly. “Actually, if you don’t mind, Cedar and I would prefer to be alone right now. I’m sure you understand.”
    Riona glanced at Rohan, who stepped forward. “This matter concerns us too, Maeve. The girl is one of us.”
    Riona, who was still standing with her arm around Cedar, said, “We can help. Cedar, look at me. All we want is to help you. We’ll find her much faster if we work together. And I’m sure she’ll be back at any moment.”
    “Why do you keep saying that?” Cedar asked, her mind still clouded by panic and fear. “How do you know?”
    “Think about what she can do! Jane was here, now she’s in New York. Eden must have opened a sidh and gone through it.”
    “But Jane says she’s not with her!” Cedar said, shaking off Riona’s arm. “We have to call the police in New York so they can look for her there!”
    “And how will you explain how she got there?” Rohan asked.
    “Rohan’s right; we don’t want to involve the police,” Riona said. “They would never believe you. And we don’t even need them, Cedar. Don’t you see? Eden can get back whenever she wants. She just needs to open another sidh.”
    Cedar nodded slowly, and the incredible pressure under her rib cage lessened slightly. Riona was right. Wherever Eden was, she could get back on her own as long as she could find a door. But then why wasn’t she back yet?
    “That’s enough,” Maeve snapped suddenly. “Thank you for your willingness to help, but this is a family matter now. Cedar and I will handle things from here.” She went to the door and held it open, looking expectantly at the others.
    Rohan ignored her completely and addressed Cedar. “I know we haven’t known you for long. We’ve only known about our granddaughter for a few hours. But she
is
part of our family, and she needs our help. We