"Marnie, are you ready to go?" P.J. could barely contain his joy after kissing Lada. If he had a tail, it would be wagging so hard it would wreck the hall's decor.

Jay was practically glowing, unable to stay still for even a second. He wanted to hug the whole world, but his sister was the closest target. P.J. tried to shower her with affection. But, Kitty dodged his puppy-like tenderness. She dashed down the stairs and knocked on the last door in the hallway on the first floor. No answer.

The rest of the family had gathered in the living room. They followed Amy's precise instructions for preparing dinner. Lada marveled at the Jayden family's efficiency. Water rolled to a bubble, potatoes shed their skin, and the table sparkled decoratively. Something was crackling in the oven, releasing a wonderful aroma.

"Marnie?!" Kitty knocked harder on the door, but still received no response.

Kitty appeared at the staircase with her hands raised in confusion. P.J. fished his phone out of his pocket, remembering that Leo had put it on airplane mode, and quickly turned it back on.

"Still asleep?" Tormenta hurried to help Kitty, and together they knocked and called out again.

P.J.'s phone buzzed, inundated with missed call notifications—at least a hundred. One was from Marnie. A grim worry etched across P.J.'s face as he exchanged anxious glances with Tom. Ray peeked into the hallway:

"Her suitcase is still here," he called out.

From somewhere deeper in the house came a disappointed exclamation. Tory pushed down on the heavy handle and entered the room, with Kitty following close behind. Both girls reappeared in the hall, confused. They had identical expressions.

"She's not in there. The room is clean, bed made," Tory reported.

A growing anxiety enveloped the space, gripping Mr. and Mrs. Jayden. They left their kitchen tasks. Then, they checked the other rooms, with the rest of the family following. A few minutes later, everyone reconvened in the living room, baffled. They searched every room in the house, but they found no trace of the girl.

P.J. tried calling Marnie's cell a few more times, but each call went straight to voicemail.

"Let me try," Leo suggested. "Maybe she blocked you?"

P.J. handed his phone to his brother to copy the number, then retrieved the suitcase and placed it on the dining room rug. Lada knelt beside him, trying to help with the zipper, but P.J.'s hands were shaking too much.

All items were arranged, packed compactly, and prepared for leaving.

"Voicemail," Leo said quietly.

"Maybe they moved her flight, and she had to leave in a hurry," Tory speculated. "Your phone was off, and she might not know our numbers to let anyone know."

The theory calmed the family a bit. But not Amy Jayden: "We need to call the airport. P.J., find her ticket; what's the flight number and departure time?"

P.J. rummaged through his pockets, forgetting he'd given his phone to his brother. His eyes showed panic. Lada patted his back to soothe him. She gently seated him on the couch and managed phone calls to the airport.

Leo and Ray checked the garage and turned on the garden lights. Then, they searched the basketball court and backyard. Everything was empty. Then, the brothers took a quick drive around the neighborhood.

Finally, Lada, who had been holding P.J.'s shoulders, whispered, "The flight isn't rescheduled. It departs in two hours."

P.J. seemed unable to gather his thoughts; every task he attempted ended in failure. He tried to close the suitcase but pinched his hand on the zipper, drawing blood. The sight of the red liquid made Lada shiver. P.J. sat there on the floor, watching the blood drip from his finger. He showed no emotion.

"We'll take the suitcase and try to catch her at the airport," Tom said to Leo, who had just returned from outside. He knew better than to let his distraught friend drive.

"Robert," Amy folded her hands as if in prayer, tears in her eyes as she turned to her husband. "We need to call the police. Time is crucial."

But Mr. Jayden was already dialing 911.