LITMIR.BIZ

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Sara demanded defensively. “Everybody does it. Everybody has one.”

      “That’s enough of that,” said Bill, his jaw set. “We’re going to look at this page right now. Let’s go.” He marched over to the computer in a corner of the family room. “Show me.”

      Zoe was fidgeting nervously with her armful of friendship bracelets. “What do you think happened to her, Mom?”

      Lucy had done plenty of research; she knew how these things happened. “I think some very bad person tricked her with a fake story, like her mom was sick or had an accident, or there was an injured dog that needed to get to a vet fast, something like that. He told her to get in the car, that would be the fastest way, and she fell for it, thinking she was needed, that she was helping.”

      “And then he killed her?” asked Zoe.

      “Probably a lot more than that,” said Sara, earning a warning look from her mother.

      “We want to believe everyone in the world is good, but that’s just not the case,” said Lucy.

      “Like Osama bin Laden,” said Zoe.

      “Exactly,” said Bill, who was leaning over Sara’s shoulder, staring at the monitor. “Only some bad guys don’t go around in funny clothes, like Osama, and we haven’t seen their photos on TV. So if somebody seems to be acting oddly to you, or asks you to do something you’re not sure you should, you should say no and get someplace safe as fast as you can.”

      Seeing that Zoe’s fidgeting was becoming frantic and she looked as if she was going to cry, Lucy put an arm around her shoulder and hugged her. “You don’t need to be afraid. Chances are this will never happen to you. But we want you to know what to do if it does, okay?”

      Zoe nodded bravely. “Okay.”

      “Well, this MySpace thing looks okay,” said Bill, speaking slowly and straightening up. “But both of you girls know that you must never, ever under any circumstances agree to meet somebody who has contacted you on the Internet, right?”

      Both girls nodded.

      “And I do think there are better uses for the computer, like for schoolwork,” he continued. “I think you both ought to get started on your homework.”

      “I’ve got to call Chad,” said Sara, standing up and smoothing her jeans. “He asked me to the prom, you know.”

      “Did you say yes?” asked Zoe, clapping her hands together.

      “I told him I’d think about it,” said Sara.

      Zoe was shocked. “Aren’t you going to say yes?”

      “Of course, I am, but not right away. I don’t want to seem too eager.” She looked at her parents. “And I know I need permission from you.”

      Lucy’s and Bill’s eyes met. Who knew their daughter was such a femme fatale?

      “Everybody thought he was going with Ashley,” said Zoe.

      “He broke up with her,” said Sara, looking smug. “Just like he broke up with Heather last year. Those girls are getting old.”

      “Old? They’re sixteen,” said Bill.

      Sara corrected him. “Almost seventeen.”

      “Positively ancient,” said Lucy, sarcastically.

      “That’s right. They’re ancient history. They’re almost seniors. Nobody dates seniors,” Sara noted.

      “Why not?” asked Lucy.

      “Like I said, they’re old. Boys, even seniors, like younger girls, like freshmen,” Sara explained. “It looks like me and my friends are going to be the new popular kids.”

      Zoe’s eyebrows shot up. “You?”

      Sara rolled her eyes. “What’s so strange about that? We’re cheerleaders. We’re cute. Justin Crane asked Renee to the prom, and Will Worthington gave Sassie a ride home today. I bet he’ll ask her, too.”

      “What about Tommy?” asked Zoe, referring to a neighbor boy, also a freshman, who had shown some interest in Sara.

      “He’s nice,” said Sara, “but you have to be a senior to buy tickets to the prom.” She got up. “Well, I’ve got to call Chad. What shall I tell him? Can I go?”

      Lucy’s first instinct was to say no. Sara was too young and inexperienced to go out with a senior, especially to something as significant as the prom. She knew full well that many kids considered the evening incomplete unless it included sex and alcohol. But she also knew that she was probably alone in this. Despite his recent show of fatherly discipline, Bill was a notoriously soft touch where his daughters were concerned.

      “What do you say, Dad?” demanded Sara.

      Lucy caught his eye and gave her head a tiny shake. He answered with an apologetic half smile. “As long as we can set some ground rules,” he said.

      “Thank you, thank you!” exclaimed Sara, giving him a big hug before dashing off to make the call. Zoe followed close on her heels, whooping.

      When they were gone, Lucy turned to Bill. “Are you crazy?”

      “Lucy, she’s growing up. She’s pretty. She’s smart. Boys are going to be attracted to her. You can’t stop it. It’s like holding back the tide.”

      “I know,” admitted Lucy. “But I don’t like her attitude.” Lucy remembered the pudgy little Sara who used to eat too much and was constantly teased about it by her older sister, Elizabeth. “What happened to our little Sara?”

      “She’s a big girl now,” said Bill.

      “Chad is three years older than she is,” said Lucy. “He’s a senior, and he can drive. That opens up a whole new can of worms. Drinking and driving and sex.”

      Bill’s jaw dropped, and he swallowed hard. “Have you had that little talk with her?”

      “Of course, I have,” she snapped. “I don’t think a little talk provides much protection.”

      Bill stood up, clenching his fists. “If he lays a hand on her, I’ll kill him.”

      “Whoa, Papa. How come you didn’t think about this before you gave her permission to go to the prom?”

      Bill’s face was blank. “I didn’t think…”

      “Well, it’s too late now. All we can do is hope for the best.” She patted his hand. “Look, Chad’s an honor student, a star athlete. All indications are he’s a good kid. And we have to have some faith in Sara. After all, we brought her up to be responsible.”

      “Like I said, he messes with my little girl, I’ll kill him,” repeated Bill.

      Lucy watched as he marched out of the room. A minute or two later, she heard the lawn mower start up. He was going to work off his anxiety by mowing the lawn. She felt the need for some distraction herself, so she grabbed the remote and sat back on the couch, put her feet up on the coffee table, and clicked on the TV, just in time to see Corinne Appleton’s parents giving a statement to the press. It was the last thing she wanted to see, but she couldn’t turn away.

      “The day we’ve dreaded for so long has come,” said Bob Appleton. “We know now that Corinne will never return. All we can do now is hope that the terrible person who did this to her will be caught and punished. We want to thank all the law enforcement officials who have worked so tirelessly to solve this case, and we know they won’t rest until justice is done. Thank you.”

      Lucy watched, wiping her eyes, as Joanne Appleton stepped up to the microphone. “I just want to add,” she said, brushing her long, curly hair out of her eyes, “that Corinne was a lovely, smart girl, a sensible girl, who made a foolish mistake. Tonight I hope you’ll all hold your daughters close and tell them how much

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