Коллекционер

           Hesaid,"MirandaknowswhatLondonislike.She’sthelastpersontotakealiftfromastrangeroranythinglikethat.I’mmostterriblyworriedaboutallthis."

           AspokesmanfortheSladeSchoolsaid,"Sheisoneofourmostpromisingsecond-yearstudents.Wearesurethatthereissomequiteharmlessexplanationforherdisappearance.Artisticyoungpeoplehavetheirwhims."

           Therethemysteryrests.

           ThepoliceareaskinganyonewhosawMirandaonTuesdayevening,orwhoheardornoticedanythingsuspiciousintheHampsteadarea,togetintouchwiththem.

           Theysaidwhatclothesshewaswearingandsoonandtherewasaphoto.AnotherpapersaidthepoliceweregoingtodragthepondsonHampsteadHeath.OnetalkedaboutPiersBroughtonandhowheandshewereunofficiallyengaged.IwonderedifhewasthebeatnikIsawherwith.Anothersaid,"Sheisoneofthemostpopularstudents,alwayswillingtohelp."Theyallsaidshewaspretty.Therewerephotos.Ifshewasuglyitwouldallhavebeentwolinesonthebackpage.

           Isatinthevanontheroadvergeonthewaybackandreadallthepaperssaid.Itgavemeafeelingofpower,Idon’tknowwhy.Allthosepeoplesearchingandmeknowingtheanswer.WhenIdroveonIdecideddefinitelyI’dsaynothingtoher.

           Asithappened,thefirstthingsheaskedmeaboutwhenIgotbackwasnewspapers.Wasthereanythingabouther?IsaidIhadn’tlookedandIwasn’tgoingtolook.IsaidIwasn’tinterestedinthepapers,alltheyprintedwasalotoftripe.Shedidn’tinsist.