Free Someone's Watching by Sharon Potts Page A

filled with anxiety about her going away to college next year. Not this.
    The muscles in Lieber’s face were tight. She opened her shoulder bag and fumbled inside. Then she closed the bag and flipped it behind her, apparently not finding what she’d been looking for.
    “What condition—” Robbie said. “Her parents must have been—”
    Lieber nodded, as though she understood what Robbie was trying to say. “Joanne hadn’t been in the water for very long.”
    “Can you tell how she died?” Robbie asked.
    “We won’t know for certain until we have the medical examiner’s report, but right now, it appears she drowned.”
    “In Indian Creek? No one goes swimming in Indian Creek.”
    “She could have fallen out of a boat, or been drunk. It’s best not to speculate until the medical examiner gives her report.” Lieber glanced at the cops and investigators huddling near the side of the creek. “I’m sorry, but I need to go.”
    Robbie saw one of the divers climb up the bank. If Joanne had been found, what were they looking for? “Oh my God,” Robbie said. “Kate.” Robbie felt a tightening in her chest. “You think she may have drowned, too?”
    “It’s possible. The last time they were seen, the girls were together. And, well, unfortunately, no one’s heard from Kate.”
    Robbie glanced over to where her father had been standing earlier. He was gone. “Have you spoken to my father?”
    “He came here with Joanne’s parents. He was very supportive, but then he became quite agitated.”
    “Well, of course he was agitated,” Robbie said. “His daughter’s friend is dead and no one knows where Kate is.”
    Lieber took in a short breath. “Like I told your father, we’re trying to understand what happened so we can take the appropriate action. And now, I really need to get back to my team.”
    “But that could take hours or days. You can’t just assume Kate also drowned. What if she’s in some kind of trouble? Shouldn’t you be looking for her?”
    “Look where?” Then her expression softened. “I know you’re concerned about Kate, but honestly, without the ME’s report on Joanne, we don’t have much to go on. All we have are questions. Had the two girls been together? Does Kate know what happened to Joanne? Was she involved?”
    “Wait a minute. What do you mean involved?”
    “I’m just saying there’s the question of why Kate hasn’t come to the police.”
    “Maybe she can’t. What if this wasn’t an accident? And what if whoever did this to Joanne has done something to Kate?”
    Lieber rested her hand on Robbie’s shoulder. “Go home, Robbie. You know I’ll do everything I can to find her.”
    “I know.” Robbie was unable to meet Lieber’s eyes.
    “And if you talk to your father,” Lieber said as she walked away, “tell him that we’re not a bunch of fat, lazy bureaucrats who are sitting on our asses while South Beach burns.”
    Robbie watched Lieber join the group by the creek.
    The helicopter swooped lower, scattering leaves and debris. Then it rose and drifted away into the sharp blue sky. The sound of droning became softer and softer and softer.

Chapter 11
     
    Robbie jogged back to her apartment. Breathing was difficult. Her sister’s friend was dead. It was tragic, but it only heightened Robbie’s sense of urgency to find Kate. But where could she be? And how was all this affecting their father?
    Robbie ran upstairs. It was after nine, too late for the local news. She wondered if the TV cameras had captured footage for the early morning broadcasts. Would any of Kate or Joanne’s friends have seen it? And what about Kate? Could she have been watching from somewhere? Robbie logged onto her computer and went straight to Facebook. First she looked for a message from Kate Brooks. Nothing.
    Then Robbie searched for Joanne Sparks. She was annoyed with herself for not having thought of this earlier. And there she was. Although the photo was different from the one on