Free The B Girls by Cari Cole

way.
It doesn't matter anyway because Belle's not here and she didn't tell me
anything about it."
    "You didn't find any notes? She must have left
something," Perry insisted.
    "Maybe. If I come across anything I'll let you
know." Lucy was ready for Perry to leave. She had a bad feeling about
Belle going missing while looking for a presumably priceless document. And if
her disappearance was related to the Declaration, Perry would have to be at the
top of the suspect list.
    "But my dissertation depends on my finding out
what happened to that document."
    "Why not write it without the conclusions
about the original copy? Surely there must be enough other ground to
cover," she said.
    He looked at her as if she'd suggested he sacrifice
a goat to Satan. "My dissertation will change the history of the
Declaration. I'm not just covering old ground here."
    The dream of every academic, to be the one to make
the breakthrough and have their names printed in textbooks the world over, to
be The Authority. "What if there's nothing to find?"
    "There has to be. I'm sure Belle was onto
something. All my research . . ."
    He left it hanging as if it should be obvious to
Lucy that he couldn't have come to any false conclusions. After all, he'd done Research .
    "I don't know what to tell you except I'm much
more interested in finding my aunt than I am about helping you with your
dissertation. If you leave your number I'll call you if I find something or have
Belle call you when she returns." Assuming she did return.
    Perry looked confused. "But, I thought--I mean
I really need--Couldn't you just let me--"
    Jane held up a hand to stop him. "Look Perry,
you're being completely inappropriate. Lucy just told you Belle is missing and
she's not going to let you rummage through Belle's personal papers. If we find
something you might find useful, we'll let you know. Okay?"
    Apparently, Perry was used to people resorting to
rude bluntness when dealing with him. He didn't get offended but nodded.
"Yeah, sure." He reached down into the bulging briefcase and somehow
came up with a pad of Post-It notes and a pen. He scribbled something and
handed it to Lucy. "You'll call if you find something? Or make sure Belle
calls when she turns up?"
    "I'll call." Lucy didn't say when, but
then, she didn't have a lot of hope he'd stay away for long.
    Mae came back to the table and gave his arm a
little tug. "I'll walk you out," she said with her Stepford smile
back in place.
    Jane rolled her eyes but Perry stood up. "Uh,
sure."
    Lucy was relieved to see him disappear toward the
front door while Mae 'blessed his heart' for all she was worth.
    "What a nut job," Jane said.
    "Don't be so sure," Mae said as she
walked back into the kitchen. "Didn't you hear Lucy say his research
matches a family legend? I say it's a sign."
    Lucy could see where this was going. "It's
just a story. And even if it's true the Declaration is long gone."
    "A sign of what?" Jane wanted to know,
ignoring Lucy's attempt to bring the discussion back to reality.
    "A sign that we should declare our
independence from suburban stereotypes. If we could actually find the original Declaration of Independence
wouldn't that be proof we're destined for more than life in McMansion
hell?"
    "I think you're absolutely right," Jane
said. She turned to Lucy. "We have to try."
    Lucy still thought it was a good possibility the
whole thing was a wild goose chase.
    "What if Belle did find something? What if it
has something to do with her being missing?" Mae said.
    Hearing Mae voice the idea made Lucy think she
might not be as paranoid as she'd feared.
    "That's just crazy talk," Jane said.
    "Why?" Mae said. "The Declaration is
bound to be worth a lot of money."
    "Belle didn't find anything because there's nothing
to find," Lucy said. But she was beginning to wonder. Perry certainly
thought there was something to find.
    Maybe.
    Could it have something to do with Belle's
disappearance?
    Probably not.
    "But suppose someone