Twenty years ago, on the day after first hearing Cindy was missing, I made my first entry in my journal relating to her disappearance and ultimate death:

Sunday, May 28/89: Yesterday Dad contacted me to say Cindy has been missing since Thursday. Agnes [Cindy’s friend and bus driver at Blenheim House] and Tom [Agnes’s husband] were supposed to play bridge with her but she never came home. Her car was found in the parking lot of the shopping centre she frequents. Her purse was inside and her bankbook was underneath the vehicle. I was given the news when I got home from work at 7:30pm. My hubby had to work the night shift so I spent the evening with a coworker, Amy. I’m worried sick about Cindy and I had a hard time sleeping. I can imagine the state of mind Mom is in and I feel I should be there to comfort her. I will fly down at a moments notice. I keep saying to myself… ‘Where are you Cindy? What’s happening?’ Every few minutes I feel like picking up the phone and calling Cindy’s place where I know Mom and the others are. Damn! I wish I knew what was going on! I feel a million miles away. I had a shower and then soaked in the tub, shaved etc. I need to keep busy otherwise the worry consumes me. I missed supper last night but I have had an apple since. Food is no comfort now and it makes me ill to think of eating. I’m wearing a purple T-shirt…Cindy’s favorite color. ‘Where are you Cindy?’

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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