I’m consumed with worry because I don’t know anything about her dad. What if he transferred her to another school or locked her in her room? The events from yesterday replay in my head: the darkened windows of the car as it pulled up next to us, the sound of Halle’s voice as she spoke to her father. But nothing gives me a clue as to where Halle is today. When Mr. Feege asks if anyone remembers the sample math problem he posted on the board yesterday, I’m so preoccupied with Halle that I raise my hand and recite it verbatim. Everyone stares, including Mr. Feege. He’d used a calculator to get the answer yesterday. “I wrote it down,” I say, pointing at my notebook. Luckily, no one notices that it’s just scribbled writing, most of which is Halle’s name in various fonts. At 10:57 I catch Roxie in the hall between classes. “Halle wasn’t in class. Have you seen her?” She shakes her head. “She’s not at school. I haven’t talked to her since yesterday.” Roxie notices the frown on my face.
