MasukBernard was looking good. His face was leaner and glowing with health. He said Matthew was making him eat healthy and save his drinking for the weekends. He was hunched over a chocolate croissant like a dog over a bone. Healthy food will do that to you.He’d come over because he’d brought some new files he’d “acquired” from his source in the police department. I put his coffee in front of him and sat down. “She wasn’t mentally ill,” he said. “The girl who kidnapped Emma—Dora. She was as sane as anyone.” “Good God, I hope not,” I said.“It’s true! Or at least, it was true. She had drug-induced psychosis.” I could feel the tension in my forehead as my eyebrows went up. “Dora?” “What about Dora?” Savannah slouched in and reached for the coffee. She was still wearing her nightie. It was a slinky silk number, so Victor had probably stayed the night again. “She was a good kid. I was devastated when I found out it was her.”“She was on serious drugs,” Bernard said. “I guess kids can be
Emma fell asleep with her head on my shoulder, her little hand clasped trustingly in mine. That made everything worth it. It didn’t stop my brain from replaying the way the girl’s jaw had collapsed under my blow with a crunch, and the brutal snap that followed. Emma was alive and undamaged. It was worth it.I’d killed a child. A mentally ill child. One who’d completely lost touch with reality. She wasn’t evil. Wasn’t even really trying to harm anyone. Just doing the best she could with her broken mind.Emma stirred. “Daddy?” Her damp fingers clutched at mine.“I’m here baby.” I kissed her forehead. It was worth it. The car came to a halt. We were home. Mrs. Sutton ran outside. She must have been watching for the car lights. “Oh Mr. Derek! I was so worried! It was all over the news—” Her eyes widened. “—And Ms. Claire! Are you hungry? I just made dinner for Mr. Derek, but I can easily whip up something else…” Emma stirred sleepily against my shoulder as I carried her inside. Cl
I walked the perimeter, my hand near my gun and my stomach fluttering with anxiety. The kids huddled together in the soft blue glow of a phone’s light. Many of the younger children were crying. Savannah and her co-director were doing their best to keep everyone calm. Savannah had her arm around Elijah and her co-director was talking softly to everyone. It sounded like he was telling them a story, something to keep their minds occupied.The next time I passed her I leaned down and asked, “Can Rory drive? Do you think he might have put Emma in a car and taken off?”Savannah shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s about fourteen I think? Not old enough to get a learner’s permit. Why are you asking about Rory?”“Wasn’t that Rory? Ethan found a notebook right where he fell at dress rehearsal yesterday. It was full of scary stuff like he was spouting about—” I gestured at Elijah. I didn’t want to upset the boy any more than necessary.“That wasn’t Rory. He’s got a pretty distinctive gait. I don’t kn
I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face, but I could hear.“Help!” Emma’s voice was raw and terrified. Her scream echoed down the dark corridors, bouncing off the walls until it sounded like it was coming from everywhere at once.“Derek, that you? Stay behind me,” Victor’s voice came from my left, low and cool, not out of breath at all.Bastard. My chest was heaving so hard it hurt. Anger and fear for Emma were clawing at my throat. To top it all off, I had to deal with Victor. I was trying to be a better man and let Claire have her chance at happiness.That didn’t mean I couldn’t hate Victor. I hated Victor with every fiber of my being. “Stop breathing through your mouth,” he hissed. His hand clamped on my shoulder with a vice-like grip. I tried to shake him off. “Mommyyy!” Emma screamed again.“Shut up!” Even through the voice changer I could hear the kidnapper’s frustration. There was a sharp slapping sound and Emma screamed again. The sound was abruptly muffled, then foo
There were a few nervous laughs in the darkness, but mostly people sat quietly, waiting for the power to come back on. “Shit,” Victor said. “You carrying?” I couldn’t see him, but I figured he was talking to me. “Yes,” I said. “Good,” he said. “I’m going to check on Savannah.” He slipped silently out of his seat. “What does this Rory guy look like, kid?”Ethan described him, then added, “I’m coming with you. I need to make sure Isabella and Emma are safe.” Derek stood up, holding his softly-glowing phone. “We’re all going.” In the pale blue light I could see Ethan, backpack tightly strapped on, face pale and determined. “Going where?” Bernard said. “To check on Savannah and the kids. Listen—” I beckoned him closer and whispered in his ear. “We think there might be trouble. We found this notebook, it’s very disturbing. Can you call nine-one-one? Ask for Detective Lowinsky.” I handed him the notebook. “Here, give this to the detective when he arrives.” He nodded, his eyes huge
“They finished the autopsy,” Bernard said. “I’ll email you the documents, but I got the coroner’s assistant to explain it to me. Unknown hallucinogens, he said. That cause permanent changes to your brain.” “That’s why he looked so rough and acted so crazy,” I said. “When he was holding Savannah and me he was very sharp, very competent.” “I heard somebody say my name,” Savannah said, bouncing in through the back door. She’d done something new to her hair. It was short and spiky, with bright blonde tips that brought out the blue in her eyes.Victor came in behind her. He was a frequent visitor nowadays. He was still annoyed with me for killing the guy, but he couldn’t argue that Savannah was doing a lot better now.Bernard repeated his information for them, and it sparked a memory somewhere in my brain. “Helen said they found the same thing in those kids they took in at Haven!” I said. “I always thought the cases were related and now we have proof!” Victor’s gaze sharpened. “Can you
I tugged at my arm, but my harasser had a good strong grip.“Be patient, babe,” he muttered. “Got a nice truck. Crew cab. Plenty of room in the back seat.” He leered at me.I whimpered. For some reason, I couldn’t get it together to scream. Fight back. Anything. I was too groggy and weak. It was al
Savannah’s stare was a challenge, and there was a time I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from responding. I’d matured since then. It was so freeing to realize that all I had to do was stop playing her games. They were all rigged. And they weren’t any fun.Adrian clasped my hand gently, calm
I looked up and saw my sister staring at me, eyes goggling and mouth open like a goldfish.Shit. This was the last thing I needed. Victor was speaking in a low voice, his tone perfectly controlled, like it always was when he wanted me to listen. Even in a public place his effect on me was undeniab
I stood under the hot lights of the stage, the Steps to Freedom logo projected fifty feet tall behind me. My wrist itched where my jacket rubbed against it. The jacket was expensive and uncomfortable, but Laura said it made me look wise and authoritative when she helped me pick it out.The audience







