Welcome to Case Closed.

You're listening to Dirt Creek by Haley Scrivener, narrated by Sophie Lockren.

Let's pick up where we left off last time.

Ronnie. Friday, 30th of November, 2001.

When my mom came back from searching, I was in bed. It was my cousin Ricky's bed, and it had one of

those plasticy bottom sheets that stopped you staining the mattress if you wait yourself.

I'm not sure what time it was exactly. The glow and the dark clock in Ricky's room had stopped,

but at that point, Esther must have been missing for about eight hours.

Fear for my friend had grown in the small, strange room. I wriggled and shifted, unable to get comfortable,

sweating and listening to the crinkling sound my movements made. On an old cot mattress on the

floor, Ricky kicked and muled in his sleep. The room smelled faintly of wee. The door opened,

a wedge of light, mum.

My voice came out cracked.

Why don't we go home, Mum?

We can sleep there.

She closed the door, stepping out of her jeans and into the bed,

arranging her body around mine.

I'm tired, bub, she whispered back. We'll go home in the morning.

She pulled me close to her. Did you find Esther? Hmm. Later, Mom would swear that she did not say yes, but she did not say no because in that moment I was convinced they'd found Esther. The world had shifted, only to click surely back

into place. My friend would be in trouble, wouldn't be allowed to go out for a while, probably couldn't

come over on Sunday like I'd hope she would, but she'd be at school on Monday.

I wanted to ask where they'd found Esther, but Mom was already breathing heavily.

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