CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
When Keri pulled up in front of the group home, it was almost 9 a.m. After she’d gotten the call from Susan, Ray had immediately dropped her off at her car next to the lagoon and she’d headed straight to the home, taking the back way by the beach along Vista del Mar to avoid the rush hour traffic. Rita Skraeling was waiting for her at the front door when she arrived.
“Her name is Darla—she’s thirteen,” Rita rasped, as they walked down the long hallway to the bedroom area. “She was hesitant to say anything at first. But Susan got her to open up. She mentioned how a man had come in just before you asking about a girl named Evie. When Susan heard that, she pressed and…well, I’ll just let her tell you. She knows more details than I do anyway.”
They came to a closed bedroo
