EXCERPT FROM BETRAYED - A romantic suspense novel | Page 28

MORGAN ST. JAMES

police station again. When an officer answered, she blurted out,
“My daughter is missing. No one tells me nothing. I called
yesterday and you said I had to wait to file a missing person
report because maybe she was staying at a friend’s house
overnight and forgot to call me.”
Her voice got louder. “Look, she hasn’t come home, I
haven’t heard from her and I’m half outta my mind. Something
has happened to that fool girl. I want to talk to whoever takes
the missing person reports.”
The officer snapped back, “Mrs. Murphy, I must ask you to
stop shouting at me. Girls her age, well, sometimes they just
forget about the time.”
His response made her even angrier. She shouted loud
enough to be heard down the block. “You listen to me! My
Laurie, she isn’t like other kids. Hardly has any friends
anymore. Doesn’t run around. Sure, she’s actin’ sorta crazy
lately, but she’s a good girl. Always lets me know where she is.
Never stays out late.”
He cleared his throat. “Uh-huh. So?”
“So, like I already said, this friend Sherry picked her up in
her new car yesterday. I haven’t seen hide or hair of her since.
Sherry’s older. Twenty-eight, maybe even twenty-nine.”
Perspiration ran down her face. She pulled the ever-present
handkerchief from the tuck in her sleeve and swiped at the
dampness. With the receiver cradled between her shoulder and
cheek, she took off her glasses and wiped them over and over,
as if that would help.
Maude’s temper was taking over. “Look, I want action and
I’m gonna get it. I’m done talking to you on the telephone. I’m
coming over right now on the trolley.” She put her glasses on
again, slammed the phone down and tucked her handkerchief
back in her sleeve.
At the sound of Mary Margaret’s footsteps, she said, “Can
you imagine? Stupid fool said Laurie probably ran away, or
maybe she’s afraid to come home or call because she’s in

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