52 pages 1 hour read

Gillian McAllister

Just Another Missing Person

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Part 1, Chapters 12-28Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Olivia”

Part 1, Chapter 12 Summary: “Emma”

“Third Day Missing”

Emma sees Matthew voluntarily giving a DNA sample to the police. She flashes back to other police officers at her door last year. She doesn’t understand why Matthew is so accommodating after what he went through but is relieved to see officers canvassing the entire neighborhood.

They go out to dinner. She thinks about one year ago when Matthew’s girlfriend disappeared. Matthew was a suspect but never charged. They never discussed the matter and have not discussed Olivia Johnson’s disappearance either, even though it happened in their neighborhood.

When they get home Julia and Poole are waiting. Julia tells them that they found Matthew’s DNA in Olivia’s bedroom, but Matthew denies knowing her. They ask for his alibi, and he tells them he was at therapy and then went to dinner with Emma. Even though he is telling the truth, Emma worries he did something wrong.

They arrest Matthew for kidnapping, and he is surprised because he has an alibi. The officers take his phone and search the house. He tells Emma he didn’t do it, and she believes him. Then he tells her that he and Olivia were talking online, but he deleted the messages.