Skink—No Surrender

The police search for Malley with only one lead: Airport surveillance shows Richard’s aunt dropping Malley off at the Orlando airport for her flight to New Hampshire. However, Malley left moments later with a man in a white car. The car had a stolen license plate and is untraceable. A detective named Trujillo questions Richard. Though Richard knows little, Trujillo asks him to keep notes the next time Malley calls. As the larger search grows, Richard finds himself constantly checking online news for updates on Malley. Nothing turns up.

Richard’s mom invites Richard to visit his older brothers at their university. Richard decides to stay behind with Trent. While on a walk, Richard receives a call from Malley. She’s in good spirits, and Richard hears seabirds and a drawbridge on the call. Malley reports that she has arrived at her destination, though she won’t say where that is. When she does let slip that she’s living “on island time” (46), the man with her reacts. Richard isn’t sure what he does, but Malley yells at her companion, “Don’t ever do that again” (46). This hints that the man she’s with could be unsafe or abusive.