YA – 12-18 years old

Heather was taking a math test when Mr. Scarlett, the vice principal, called her out in the hall to ask if she knew where Julie was. He was unusually stern.
“She has Phys Ed this period,” Heather said. Shouldn’t he know that?
“She’s not in class,” Mr. Scarlett said. “She wasn’t in Computer Applications first period, either. Your mother says she didn’t stay home sick.”
“No, she left before I did,” Heather said. She was mystified, and as the situation sank in, she experienced the first shudder of real fear. Julie liked school, and she would never cut classes. Their parents would kill them if they even thought of such a thing. They were not overly strict, but they were firm in their expectations that their daughters would always do the right thing.
She dug her cell phone, silenced during class, out of her purse, and dialed her sister’s number. It rang four times and went to voicemail. “It’s me,” she said. “Where are you? Call when you get this.”