The Reappearance of Rachel Price
by Holly Jackson
Contents
Chapter Twenty-eight
Overview
Dave Winter reports that Charlie's bank account has been used in Vermont, suggesting Charlie may be alive but deepening Bel's suspicion because she does not believe Charlie would abandon her without contact. Bel decides Rachel remains the key to understanding both her original disappearance and Charlie's current one.
Instead of avoiding Rachel, Bel changes tactics: she stages a friendly cookie-baking evening, recruits Carter for Rachel's passcode, and has Ash wait nearby with a camera. The chapter ends with Bel successfully stealing Rachel's phone and leaving the house to search it.
Summary
Dave Winter arrives at the Price house while reporters crowd outside, newly drawn by Charlie Price disappearing shortly after Rachel Price's return. Dave tells Bel and Rachel that Charlie's bank account has shown activity over the past four days: withdrawals and purchases in Vermont. Dave presents this as good news, suggesting Charlie is alive and likely taking space, though he is still waiting on phone records and working with Vermont police.
Bel is relieved Charlie may be alive but doubts he would leave without telling her or making contact. Bel concludes that whether Charlie ran because of Rachel or Rachel caused his disappearance, the solution is the same: expose Rachel's lies about her disappearance and reappearance. Remembering Dave's comment that phones reveal a lot, Bel focuses on Rachel's phone and decides to stop avoiding Rachel so she can study her more closely.
Bel pretends to make peace by inviting Carter over to bake cookies with her and Rachel. Bel deliberately chooses peanut butter cookies because the house is out of peanut butter, prompting Rachel to go to the store. While Rachel is gone, Bel drags Carter inside and asks for Rachel's phone passcode, explaining that she believes Rachel is lying and may be connected to Charlie's disappearance.
Carter hesitates and seems about to say something, but Rachel returns before Carter can explain. Under pressure, Carter gives Bel the passcode, 5678, and reluctantly agrees to distract Rachel during baking. Bel has also summoned Ash to wait in the garage with a camera, keeping him hidden from the reporters.
During baking, Bel watches Rachel place her phone facedown on the kitchen table. Bel creates a cover by discussing taking cookies to Grandpa Pat and placing Tupperware in front of the phone to block Rachel's view. Bel then steals Rachel's phone, hides it up her sleeve, and slips into the hallway.
To buy time, Bel pretends a letter for a neighbor has been delivered and says she will drop it off. Carter keeps Rachel occupied with baking questions as Bel leaves the house, ignores the reporters, and heads toward the garage with Rachel's phone in hand.
Who Appears
- Bel PriceDistrusts Rachel, doubts Charlie left willingly, and steals Rachel's phone to find evidence.
- Rachel PriceReturns from shopping to bake with Bel and Carter, unaware Bel is targeting her phone.
- CarterReluctantly gives Bel Rachel's passcode and distracts Rachel during the phone theft.
- Dave WinterReports Charlie's bank activity in Vermont and continues coordinating the search.
- Charlie PriceMissing father whose bank account activity in Vermont changes the investigation's direction.
- AshSummoned by Bel to wait hidden in the garage with a camera.
- Grandpa PatMentioned as a possible cookie recipient, giving Bel cover to steal the phone.
- YordanMentioned as Grandpa Pat's caregiver while Charlie is missing.