Secrets in the Attic (Secrets 1)

said. "She came down here, and she's answering your

questions. She's just trying to be as accurate as possible."

He looked at my father, nodded, and turned

back to me.

"Did she ever talk about a place she would go,

somewhere she wanted to go?"

"The city," I said.

"The city?" He looked at Detective Simon as

though I had given them a brilliant lead.

"New York City?" Simon asked.

"That's the only city people up here mean when

they say 'the city,' " Chief Keiser said.

"All right. If you think of anything that might

help us understand this situation more, you call the

police station here, and ask for Chief Keiser. He'll get

to us right away, especially if Karen Stoker calls you,

understand?" Lieutenant Cooper asked me.

"If she calls me, call you right away," I

promised. She would never call me in my own house.

"Thank you, Mr. Stein," the chief said, standing and

offering his hand.

Daddy rose to shake it, and I stood.

"No problem," Daddy said. "Good luck with the

investigation," he told the detectives, and then he led

me out of the police station. He didn't speak until we

were in the car. He inserted the ignition key and

started the engine first. Then he turned to me. "You

did real well, honey. Don't let the detectives upset

you."

"I'm not upset," I said.