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as one of the names on the long list of unsolved murders and disappearances in Oasis.
    Louise had tried very hard to make new friends in town, but it hadn’t worked out that way. Linda and Shana had never included her in their activities. Shirley and Minnie had never been too friendly to her beyond a quick hello or goodbye. She had the sinking feeling that no one in town liked her; even Todd acted evasive whenever she spoke to him.
    She was curious if anyone else in town was being stalked; she couldn’t believe that she was the only one. Then she thought about all the young girls who’d gone missing from town over the years. Maybe they’d had similar stalking experiences before they’d vanished for good. These disappearances had never been discussed nor fully investigated. She had to be extra careful in the evenings, or else she could end up like these girls—who, she was certain, would never be found alive.

Chapter 4
    T he grey sky perfectly mirrored the uneasy feeling Linda woke with the next morning as conflicted thoughts raced through her mind. She wanted to know why only certain people were invited to the party and why the owner of the house chose to remain a mystery. Was there a sinister purpose to the gathering? Or was it just a way to welcome the newer residents to town? On the other hand, Gregg, Ryan, Judy, and Todd—who had lived in town all their lives and didn’t need to be welcomed—had also received invitations.
    After finishing with the lunch crowd, she decided to visit the other store owners to see if they could provide her with any useful information about the party. She left Patty—the college student whom she’d recently hired—in charge of the store. She was nervous about leaving her alone, but she knew that she had to start trusting people at some point. She couldn’t spend every minute of every day watching over her store. And what harm could Patty possibly do to her store, anyway?
    Her first visit was to Shirley, the self-appointed town gossip. As soon as Shirley spotted her walking in, she quickly hung up the phone.  Who had she been talking to? Linda asked herself.  And why hadn’t she wanted her conversation to be overheard?
    Approaching Shirley’s desk, she hurriedly apologized, “You didn’t have to hang up just because of me. I only came over to gossip since business is slow today.”
    “I was finishing up anyway. What can I help you with? Come sit with me on the couch.” She led Linda to the pretty flowered couch under the green-tinted front window, while she settled into the large matching armchair.
    “Have you been invited to the party at End House on Friday night?” questioned Linda as she attempted to get comfortable in the mound of pillows scattered around her.
    “No, of course not—only the young people of Oasis have been invited,” explained Shirley—as if this were obvious to everyone. She was looking down as she spoke…busily straightening her blouse and smoothing the pleats in her skirt. Shirley was always adjusting some piece of clothing, realized Linda. Even Shirley was giving vague answers to her straightforward questions.
    “Why?” she prompted Shirley.
    “Hank and I don’t fit in with the younger crowd….We’re too old and our spouses have already passed on,” clarified Shirley. As she spoke her shoulders began to droop, causing Linda to wonder if she did that on purpose just to appear older and frailer.
    “Both of you look so young,” she remarked.
    “No. We’re in our seventies,” answered Shirley in a sad tone of voice.
    Unnerved by this unexpected answer, Linda quickly stood up and bid Shirley goodbye.
    Her next stop was the antique shop. David was busy helping a customer, but Mike came right over, eager to help her, squeezing past the antique furniture that filled up every inch of available space. It was a huge store, but they still managed to fill it with so much furniture and artwork that it made it difficult to maneuver easily through