The Piper

FIFTY-EIGHT




Olivia spent a long time in the well lit room where the security guard was. He stayed with her when the other guards went down into the Death Tunnel to look. He wanted to search for Patsy Ackerman, everyone there knew her name, here at the Waverly she was legend. But Olivia cried whenever he got too far away. He was sturdy and not that tall, balding a bit. But something about him made Olivia feel better. So to keep her from crying, he stayed.

But no one could find Patsy Ackerman, so they had to call the police. Olivia wondered if she would go to jail for trespassing or if there would be a fine. She did not care. Anywhere was better than here.

She looked at the time on her cell phone, and watched the clock until three fifteen a.m., wondering if Teddy’s time was up.

She had the strong feeling that no one really believed anything she said, did not believe that Patsy Ackerman was actually there with her, inside the Body Chute, until they finally found the signs. Olivia was able to identify everything. Patsy’s cell phone. Patsy’s purse. One black pirate boot, the heels scuffed and torn as if Patsy had been dragged. But no sign of Patsy herself. No blood anywhere, but a hank of long blonde hair further down the tunnel, hair torn out by the roots. They set up floodlights, and called for extra help, and they searched the rest of the night and the whole next day. No other signs of Patsy, anywhere. No signs of Patsy at all.