"Who's he?" I asked instead of answering Kennedy.
"That's Buddy," the officer said.
"He's my fiancé," Sheila said. Buddy looked surprised by his new designation. I remembered Karen's comments last summer; here was the friend who made a lot of noise humping. I reluctantly let the troupe in my house.
When they were seated, I acted like an efficient hostess and called up to Karen. She came down the stairs looking nervous, her pen and diary still in her hand.
"What did you do with Mary Ellen?" Sheila roared before Karen reached the bottom step. Karen, bless her heart, didn't answer. Kennedy took over.
"Let's not make this confrontational. A girl is missing, and her mother is concerned. . ."
"You bet we are!" Scruffy Buddy said, speaking for the first time.
"Let me handle this," Kennedy said. He turned to Karen as she sat next to me. "Do you have any idea where the young lady is?" I crossed my fingers.
"I've been away," my daughter answered. I silently applauded her. I couldn't have been more evasive myself.
"You were Mary Ellen's best friend. She said so," Sheila growled. "You have to know where she went. You knew about her boyfriend too."
"Do you know Swifty Bascomb?" Kennedy asked. Great nickname, I thought. Very appropriate.
"I know he was Mary Ellen's boyfriend. I met him once last summer."
"You know he knocked up Mary Ellen, don't you?" Sheila asked, but Karen didn't answer.
"His ass is in jail where it should be," Buddy said, with a note of triumph.
"Buddy saw to that," Sheila said with pride. "He should get a reward or something; Swifty selling dope to the kids like he was doing."
"I set him up good. I pretended I wanted to buy and got him near the school. Just like on TV. He ain't getting out for a long time."
Sheila patted his arm. "He's finished. All we have to do is get rid of this baby business and move on."
I immediately sensed what was happening. Karen knew where Mary Ellen was hiding and wasn't about to blab.
"Tell us where she is!" Sheila demanded.
Officer Kennedy looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. "She's a runaway. This isn't the first case I've seen. She's running because she's confused and most likely ticked off at her home life. These kids usually come back when things get tough out there."
"Are you saying her home life is shitty?" Sheila blurted out as Karen rolled her eyes. Sheila turned to her with a snarl. "Get that smirk off your face! Just 'cause you're a rich little bitch doesn't give you the right to say I'm a lousy mother!"