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Audio fills the room. It’s coming from the box at the gate.

“This is Sheriff Curtis. Open up, Nina.”

Max’s eyes go wide, and he grabs my hand. I wrap an arm around his shoulder to reassure him he’s safe. I’m not going to let his father find him.

“Hold your horses,” Nina responds. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

On another screen, the front door to the house opens. Nina, now wearing her leather jacket, steps out. I follow her progression down the long driveway across several monitors. While I wait for her to reach the gate, I take stock of the other camera locations. The only ones inside the house are in the common areas, thank God. It would be super weird if there were any in the bedrooms or bathrooms. Fortunately, there aren’t.

“Good afternoon, Sheriff,” Nina says when she reaches the gate. “What brings you ontomyproperty today?”

“We’re looking for a boy. My son. Max Curtis. We have reason to believe you’re hiding him.”

“I’m so sorry your boy’s missing,” Nina says, seeming sincere. “What does he look like?”

As Curtis describes him, Max wraps his arms around my leg. He’s shivering so hard I’m afraid he’s going to pass out.

“Don’t let him get me. Don’t make me go with him,” Max wails.

“You’re not going anywhere with him.” I hug the trembling child as anger tightens my chest. No child should ever be afraid of his father. This man is a monster. He doesn’t deserve to have children, not if he’s going to treat them like this. I’ve seen the bruises. I know what he’s capable of, and remembering that renews my resolve. He’s not going to get his hands on Max. Not while I’m around to stop him.

“I haven’t seen your son,” Nina lies.

“Do you mind if we come in and have a look around?” Curtis asks.

“Not at all. In fact, I was just enjoying some lemonade and cookies. Would you like a glass?” she asks sweetly.

“Sure.”

Nina punches something into her phone. The gate slowly rolls open to allow the deputies through. They drive past Nina toward the house, and she waits until they’re all inside before tapping once on her phone. The gate closes, locking them in.

Max’s eyes dart from one screen to the next as he follows his father’s image. I want to reassure Max that we’re perfectly safe in the panic room, but I don’t know how far his father is willing to go to get him back. He’s obviously capable of great cruelty, but is he smart enough to realize his son is in the house?

I quickly find the cameras hidden in various locations in the living room. I try to remember what was sitting on the mantle that could have hidden that camera. For the life of me, I can’t recall anything out of the ordinary, which means they’re well hidden.

The sheriff and his deputies fan out into the living room. Some sit on chairs while others mill about, presumably looking for evidence that Max is on the premises. I quickly check the coffee table, looking for the plates Max and I used for the cookies. They’re gone. Nina must have moved them before letting the men into the house.

“As you can see, I’m alone at the moment,” Nina says. “Please, enjoy as many cookies as you like.”

Only one deputy takes a cookie. The others ignore her invitation.

“Max was last seen with a nurse from his school. Julia Brant. Have you seen this woman?” The sheriff holds up a photo I recognize from last year’s yearbook. I remember hating how puffy my hair looked that day, but now it’s so inconsequential I want to laugh. Suddenly, things that seemed important aren’t anymore. Not in comparison to being hunted by the police.

“This matter was referred to the FBI this morning,” he says.

“The FBI?” Nina takes the photo from him and pretends to study it.

“Ms. Brant’s a wanted fugitive. Since it’s a child kidnapping, the FBI got involved. There’s a warrant out for her arrest. Anyone caught aiding and abetting her will face federal criminal charges. So, if you know where she is, now would be the time to tell me.” Curtis leans into Nina’s personal space, but she doesn’t move away. She looks up at him with mock innocence.

“I’ll give your office a call if I see her around town.”

“Mind if my men look around the rest of the house?”

“Feel free. I have nothing to hide.” She waits until the sheriff and three of his men head down the hall before turning to the man they left behind. “Can I get you a glass of lemonade?”

Her sweet, innocent demeanor is so contrary to what little I know about her that I can’t help but wonder, how well do I know this woman? Can I trust her? I feel like I can. After all, she’s done nothing but protect us. But still, she’s essentially a stranger.

When the deputy turns his back on her to grab a cookie, Nina winks. I startle. She knows I’m watching. I should find it disconcerting, but I have no reason not to trust her. If anything, I’m the one who should feel guilty about being here. I’m putting her and her “boys,” as she calls them, in danger. The cops wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t fled with the sheriff’s son. Yet, even though I’m the one causing the police’s scrutiny, she’s still protecting us. She could give us up right now to avoid going to jail, but she’s not. She’s risking her freedom for us. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay her.