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“Ketamine is also unique because we don’t see it a lot in mainstream medicine. It’s used mostly byveterinarians, not too often by medical doctors. So when we see it, it stands out. At least to me it does.”

“Stands out how?”

“There was a girl who went missing a couple of years ago, more than a year before you and Nicole were taken. Her name was Nancy Dee. She was from a small town in Virginia and she disappeared one day after volleyball practice. This was back in March of 2015. Her body was found six months later and told a story of captivity—chronic bruising to her ankles and wrists commonly found when someone is restrained for long periods. Sexual abuse, as well. A jogger found her body in a shallow grave along a wooded running path. I had a look at the autopsy and toxicology report. Nancy died of respiratory distress from an overdose of ketamine.”

Livia let the implication settle in.

“Ketamine?”

Livia nodded.

“You think my case is connected to this other girl?”

“I think it’s a possibility,” Livia said.

“Like, the same person who took me, took this other girl?”

“Yes. The same person who took youandNicole.”

An uneasy look came over Megan’s face and Livia recognized it immediately.

“Look, Megan, I know I’m springing this on you, and I know I don’t have much to back up my theory. But my sister is gone, and I need some answers to what happened to her. Some closure. At least some attention. I feel like this town has forgotten her. This town, the county, the whole goddamn state and country haveforgotten Nicole Cutty ever existed. Maybe all these months later, I’m starting to forget, too.

“I want to look into this ketamine connection. See if there are any other similarities between your case and Nancy Dee’s. I’m going to need help. My contacts include the detectives I work with at the medical examiner’s office, but I know they won’t give my theory much time. Especially since Nancy was from Virginia, which is out of their jurisdiction and beyond their interest. So, if you’re on board here, I was hoping you might ask your dad for help on this.”

Megan looked briefly at Livia and then diverted her eyes, nodding her head. “I can ask him. And I will, if we have to.” She paused. “It’s just that my dad’s had a harder time with this than anyone. I know he blames himself for what happened to me. Right afterward, before my mother became the zombie she is today—so focused on the book and the money and paying for the college I don’t attend—I heard her mention to Dr. Mattingly how helpless my dad felt during my captivity.Impotentwas the word she used. My dad is in charge of the county’s police force and I know he still carries guilt for what happened to me. He’s torn up that I was taken, as any father would be. But what killed him was notfindingme. He used to tell me, right after I made it home, that he didn’t sleep for the entire two weeks I was gone because his mind was working every second on ways to find me. I know he wants my forgiveness, but I’ve never blamed him for what happened to me so I don’t know how to give it to him.”

Megan shook her head and wiped her eyes before they had a chance to shed tears.

“He’s not the same since this happened. None of usare. So, I’ll ask him for help. I will,” Megan said. “I promise. But if we want to look into my case, I’d rather start elsewhere first.”

Livia nodded. “Okay. Where is that?”

“I work at the courthouse.” Megan pointed at the building behind them. “If you want to look for a connection between my case—and Nicole’s—and the girl in Virginia, I can get us access to my case file. I know right where to look for it. I’ve looked through it myself out of curiosity. I didn’t find anything, but you’ll be looking with fresh eyes. We’ll take that route first and see what we find. If we come across anything relevant that connects the case to Nancy Dee, then I’ll ask my dad for help.”

“Okay,” Livia said. “How exactly does one look at a case file and evidence?”

“I was able to find my case initially because I’m a snoop and everyone’s very awkward around me. I’m the sheriff’s daughter and ever since the abduction people are afraid to talk to me. Before, this would have offended me. Now, I prefer it. I wander around the dark corners of that building and people divert their eyes. But I won’t get that same treatment if I walk down to evidence with you next to me. To smuggle you in, we’ll have to do it when the supervisor is gone and I’ll have to ask for a favor. But I know an evidence tech who owes me one. I’ll try for this Friday. Does that work?”

Livia nodded. “I’ll make it work. What time?”

“Meet me here at noon? If I can’t pull strings by then, we’ll reschedule.”

Livia stood from the bench. “Thanks, Megan. I appreciate the help.”

“I’m glad someone’s asking for it.”

Livia turned to leave.

“Sorry I never got in touch with you or your parents after all this,” Megan said.

“You’ve been through a lot. You’ve got to take care of yourself before you can be expected to reach out to others.” Livia turned again to leave.

“Livia?”

Livia looked back.

“I know you think everyone has forgotten about Nicole. But I never have.”