Chapter Twenty-Three

Thirty-some-odd hours later, I was no closer to finding my sister.

“Any word on Lydia?” Jane asked, coming into the kitchen. I sat at the table, searching my phone.

I shook my head. "I called the police, but she's an adult, and she isn't really missing," I told her. "And California is a big place."

“I'm so sorry, Lizzie.” Jane put her hands on my shoulders and gave me a reassuring squeeze.

“My uncle is driving down from Sacramento today, but I'm not sure how much help it's going to be,” I continued. “Mom and Dad are in the middle of the ocean on their cruise. They can't do anything.”

I looked down at my cereal and realized I hadn't eaten a bite of it. It was now just soggy mush.

“How are you doing?” Jane asked. I could tell she was worried about me.

"I didn't sleep the night of the party, and I didn't sleep much last night. I just kept looking up and calling hotels," I told her. I played with the soggy cereal with my spoon. I wasn't hungry anyway. "She's been in California for forty-e