Page 94 of Inside Silence

Roy looks at Hugo. “No, I’m sorry. Tate was mentioning him, but she was shaking so hard, I could barely make out what she was saying. I think he’s in there. I think he’s in the church.”

Hugo immediately turns back to the parking lot where Brant is waiting. His eyes haven’t left the door through which Savvy disappeared. My heart is torn but I take guidance from the old man’s words: Savvy can take care of herself, but my daughter needs me.

“Show me,” I snap at Roy.

I see the bottom of the pink Chucks with daisies she found online and begged me to buy her. Like the sap I am, I spent way too fucking much money on those bitty scraps of fabric and rubber. But Tate had been elated when they arrived a few days ago and has worn them ever since.

Seeing those pink sneakers dangling from a branch a good twenty-five to thirty feet up off the ground makes my heart constrict in my chest.

“Jesus,” I mumble.

“Yeah,” Roy confirms. “Couldn’t believe it. She was so fast, I couldn’t catch her, and when I tried to get up there after her, she started shaking so hard I was afraid she’d lose her grip.”

I can see her shaking from way down here. She’s hugging the tree hard, her face pressed into the bark as her wide eyes stare down. But I’m not too sure she even sees us.

“I’m gonna try and get up there, see if I can get her down.”

My work keeps me in decent shape, but I’m well past the age where climbing trees is a daily occurrence. Good thing my calluses are thick with the rough bark biting into my palms. I go as fast as I dare without startling her, mumbling soothing nonsense all the way up. Last thing I want is for her to slip or let go completely before I can get to her.

“You’re okay, Sweetpea. I’m here. I’ve got you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I promise.”

I work my way around the other side of the thick trunk and ease my way closer to where I’m shoulder to shoulder with her.

“Tate, honey, can you look at me? Please, baby, look at me, I’m right here. You’ve been so brave, but let me take care of you now, okay? Tatum?”

Slowly, she turns her head. The imprint of the bark mars her cheek with angry red slashes, and her eyes are wide and terrified.

“Good girl. Now, I’m going to get you down from here. I need you to put your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist. I won’t let you go. I swear.”

She shakes her head.

“He’s down there,” she whispers, her teeth chattering from shock.

I immediately glance down, but Roy is the only one at the bottom of the tree.

“That’s just Roy, honey.”

“No…not him. It’s the man who stole KC’s boots. I saw him get out of the car.”

I can’t make heads or tails of what she is talking about.

“Who, baby? Who are you talking about?” I push, but she’s not saying any more. “Come on, Tate, I’m not going to let anyone near you, but we need to get out of this tree before we both fall out. Please, Sweetpea. Let me help you.”

The branch under my feet is pretty sturdy, and I keep a firm grip on the trunk with my left as I reach out my right hand to close over her slim wrist.

“Trust me, I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” I promise.

Her concession is no more than a slight shift in her eyes before she releases her left hand, allowing me to wrap that arm around my neck. I would prefer to have her at my front, but that would only make climbing down that much more dangerous. It takes a little maneuvering, but we get it done. When she is clinging to my neck, her colt-like legs wrapped around me, I can feel the tremors shaking her small body.

It’s not until we’re halfway down she says by my ear.

“It’s the tall guy wearing the hat. He went inside with Savvy.”

A cold fist closes around my heart.

“Roy!” I yell down. “Tell Brant Savvy needs help! It’s Maynard, hurry!”

Chapter 29