Matthew's dad froze in the doorway as he saw Matthew by the broken stair. "What in the world are you doing!" His dad yelled. Matthew spins around quickly.
"Oh dad I uhh….i just…"
"I don't wanna hear any bullcrap! Get away from there! Now!" His dad yelled louder.
"Y-yes sir…" Matthew said and rushed out the door and to the playground. Matthew was frightened by his fathers actions. He'd never acted like this. Ever. It was almost like he was…hiding something under those stairs. Matthew started thinking of what could be under there. His mind was empty. He couldn't think of a single thing that could be that important to hide, or better yet scream like that. He finally made it to the playground and saw Jane.
"Thank gosh. I was starting to get worried. What took you so long?" Jane asked with a sigh of relief.
"We need to talk. Now." Matthew said in a demanding tone. Jane was starting to think something happened. Well something did happen, and she wanted to know what it was.
"What happened, Matthew?"
"Ok do you know the name…Isabella Woods by any chance?" Matthew asked.
"No I don't think so?" Jane answered. "Why?"
Matthew sighed.
"Because I saw an article about it in the newspaper."
"Matthew. You know we're not supposed to read the newspapers. It's like illegal for kids to." Jane sighed and waited. "Well…? Go on." She said now tapping her foot.
"I asked my mom about who she was and she totally flipped. Like she was a whole different person after i mentioned the name." Matthew said.
"Well what did she say?" Jane asked obviously curious.
"She told me that we don't speak of that name. Grabbed my wrist and yelled at me until I told her where I got the name. I tried to lie but it was like she saw right through me, you know?" Matthew continued.
"That's odd. She definitely knows something we don't." Jane added. "What did the newspaper say about her?"
"Said that she was missing. Went missing three weeks ago. Still not found." Matthew said.
"Did it say what she was wearing?"
"Yeah it did. She was wearing flared jeans and a white tank top with a brown belt and steel toed boots." He added.
"Matthew that could literally be anyone down here." Jane sighs. "Did she have a tattoo or anything?"
"She's fourteen, no she don't have a tattoo Jane." Matthew sighed. "She had this necklace though. It was silver with a emerald green diamond on it."
"That's better than nothing I guess." Jane said. "Anything else weird?"
"I was walking down the steps and I accidentally broke one." Matthew said.
"Ok how's that weird? It just means you have to lay off the Debbie snacks?" Jane says genuinely confused. Matthew rolls his eyes.
"You didn't let me finish you prick." He sighs and continues. "I saw something under the step and I walked close to it to see what it was and my dad walked in and freaked out." Matthew said.
"Huh. Maybe he's hiding something." Jane says.
"Nahhhh. Really?" Matthew's voice drips with sarcasm.
"Look I know your stressed, but you don't have to be rude to me." Jane says and Matthew looks at her.
"Stressed? Stressed don't even begin to TOUCH how freaked out I am. Like what's under the stairs that's so important to hide?"
"I don't know Matt. I just don't know. We'll figure it out though." Jane puts a hand on Matthew's back. "I promise." She adds in a soft tone.
"I'm gonna look under those stairs tonight." Matthew says, and Jane stops him.
"Like heck you are! Your gonna wait until they think you forgot about it then when their at work or on vacation without you go and see what it is." Jane says. Matthew considers her words.
"That's smart." Matthew says.
"I know." She smirks.
"Don't get to cocky about it." Matthew says more relaxed now. There was a comfortable silence between them, but Matthew couldn't help but think about what could be under those stairs. Is it something important….or someone?