Page 73 of The Chain

“This one is my whole world,” Rachel replies.

The woman nods. “You can’t let them out of your sight.”

“You can say that again.”

Kylie comes out of the bathroom and Rachel hugs her. They leave the gas station hand in hand.

“I want to have a long, hot shower when I get home,” Kylie says as they get in the car.

“Of course. Anything you want.”

“I feel dirty.”

“Are you OK? Did they touch you? Hurt you?”

“No…yes. The man yesterday. What day is it?”

“Sunday morning, I think.”

“I tried to escape and he slapped me,” Kylie says matter-of-factly.

“Oh my God. He hit you?” Rachel asks.

“Yes. And the funny thing was, he wasn’t the bad one. She was the bad one. She was so scary,” Kylie says and starts crying again.

Rachel hugs her tightly.

“Come on, let’s go, I want to go home. I want to see my cat and Uncle Pete,” Kylie says.

Rachel starts the car and turns on the lights and drives south.

“There’s something else, Mom,” Kylie says.

“What?” Rachel asks, expecting the worst.

“I’m not really sure but I think maybe they shot a cop. We were pulled over by a state trooper and I think they shot him.”

Rachel nods. “I think there were reports of a New Hampshire state trooper being shot on Thursday morning.”

Kylie gasps. “Did he die?”

“I’m not sure,” Rachel lies.

“We have to go to the police,” Kylie says.

“No! It’s too dangerous. They’ll kill us all. They’ll hunt us down and get us. You, me, Pete, your father, all of us. We can’t say or do anything, Kylie.”

“So what do we do?”

“We don’t do anything. We keep quiet and try to put this behind us.”

“No!”

“We have to, Kylie. I’m sorry, but it’s the only way.”

When they arrive back on Plum Island ten minutes later, Pete is waiting for them. He hugs Kylie when she gets out of the car and then lifts her up and spins her around.

“Honey, you’re safe!” he says and helps her inside.