Part 3Unexpected Hundred Million

The next morning, I called out of work and drove straight to Sarah's parents' house.

Since Sarah and I were childhood best friends, her parents practically treated me like a second daughter.

It was right around lunchtime. When I walked in, they smiled warmly and asked if I wanted to stay for food.

How could anyone eat at a time like this?!

"Where is Sarah?" I asked, my voice tight with panic.

Seeing my frantic state, the smiles instantly vanished from their faces.

"Sarah went to sleep over at a coworker's house yesterday," her mom replied, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "She hasn't come back yet. What's wrong?"

"Did something happen to my baby?"

"A coworker's house?!" I echoed, completely stunned.

"Which coworker? Did she give you a name?"

Her mother shook her head, looking utterly lost. "No, she just said it was a good friend from the office."

Another massive red flag!

Sarah had complained to me countless times about how utterly alienated she felt in that office.

She was a quiet, traditional girl, but she wasn't archaic.

Meanwhile, the older generation she worked with were incredibly toxic. They constantly judged her for being single, gossiped maliciously, and made her work life a living hell.

She vented to me all the time about how she could barely tolerate being in the same room as them, forcing herself to maintain a polite facade just to survive the workday.

Under what possible circumstance would she voluntarily sleep over at one of their houses?

"Mrs. Davis," I asked, grabbing her hands. "When exactly did she go to this coworker's house?"

"Right after she clocked out yesterday," her mom answered.

"Did she come home first to pack a bag, or did she go straight there?"

"She just texted us right after work and said she was heading over."

I needed to be absolutely sure. "So the last time you physically saw her was yesterday morning?"

Mrs. Davis nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

Her eyes darted around in rising panic. "Riley, what is going on? Please don't scare me!"

I hesitated for a split second, wondering if I should tell them the truth.