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“Megan, stop and talk to me.” Livia took Megan bythe shoulders, the beam of the flashlight falling to their feet. “You said you know who took you. Tell me.”

With the cellar door open, the staircase was a shadowless portal to a different world.

“During my last therapy session, I got further than ever before. He came down the steps and I heard it. I listened during that session, more closely than I ever did before. I heard it, Livia.”

“You heard what, Megan?”

“And then, during my dream the other night when you were in the passing train, when you waved to me . . . I heard it again, just before I woke.”

“Tell me, Megan. What was it?”

“That sound I know so well. That sound I’ve known from childhood.”

Livia waited.

“Leather,” Megan said. “I heard the leather holster of a belt.”

CHAPTER 58

August 2016

The Night of the Abduction

Nicole heard Livia’s recorded voice come through her phone as voice mail picked up. She ended the call as the flashing lights filled her rearview mirror. Part of her wanted to scream because she knew there was no turning back. Part of her wanted to step on the accelerator and flee. But another part wanted this, exactly what was happening. Wanted to be cornered with no choice but to tell the police what had gone on tonight.

She pulled to the side of the frontage road, her car pitching to a slight angle as the passenger-side tires settled onto the gravel shoulder. The officer came to her window as she rolled it down.

“You know you sailed through a stop sign back there, young lady?”

Nicole was crying. “I didn’t see it. I need help.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I hit someone. With my car. I hit my boyfriend. Andthere’s a girl who needs help. Two girls, maybe more. I don’t know.”

“Slow down. Shut the engine off, please.”

Nicole turned the ignition.

“Step out of the vehicle, please. Tell me what’s going on.”

Nicole climbed from her car, crying hysterically now. The officer put his arm around her and led her to the patrol car.

“Here, let’s have those,” he said, taking Nicole’s keys. He opened the back of the car and helped her sit down. “Wait here for a minute. We’ll find out what’s going on.”

He reached for her other hand and gently took her phone.

“Did you make any calls tonight?”

“My sister.”

“I see.” The officer’s voice was gentle and caring. “Did you speak with her?”

“No.”

“Leave a message or a text?”

Nicole shook her head.