Linx turned on her phone and it chimed continuously with a stream of messages. Her eyes zeroed in onGrady’s.
If he needed her to testify that she had lied to the court, she would. She would pay for her mistakes, but she would never, ever runagain.
Her phone rang and she answeredit.
“Linx!” Grady’s voice snapped her from her stupor. “Is Jessie with you? We’re all looking forher.”
“Wait, what? Jessie?” Every nerve ending pinched and fired at the same time. “Whathappened?”
“She’s missing. We can’t find her. I’m with her dad, searching the campgrounds. Didn’t you say something about her and Betsy running away together?” Grady’s voice tumbled, out almostincoherent.
“You mean she ran away?” Linx’s heart jolted against her ribcage. “Did you call thepolice?”
“The police are looking for her. Ginger’s also missing. Did you go to the center after leaving your father’shouse?”
“No, I’m in Nevada. What’s this about Jessie? It’s getting dark,” Linx wailed. “I have to come back and help findher.”
“You said something about Jessie and castles in the mountain, caves orsomething?”
“She talks about fairy wagons,” Linx said. “Gypsy wagons with stars and moons. She has a great imagination, but it’s all a fantasy world. She doesn’t know any realgypsies.”
“But she likes to wander off,” Gradysaid.
“She knows her way around town and usually pops in at the center,” Linx said. “But not this late. What if it’s worse? What if someone kidnappedher?”
“That’s what we’re afraid of,” Grady said. “You have to comeback.”
In the background, she heard other malevoices.
“Mark wants to talk to you,” Grady said. “I’ll hand youover.”
“Okay.” Linx waited, her pulse surging in every artery until Mark got on the line. “Mark? What happened to Jessie? I’m reallyworried.”
“You don’t have her? Is she in the back of your SUV?Anywhere?”
“I didn’t see her, but I can check,” Linx said. “Cedar’s with me. She would havealerted.”
Linx opened her tailgate and peered inside. There was no sign ofanyone.
“No one here. I’m really gettingworried.”
“Did Jessie ever tell you where the fairy wagons are?” Markasked.
“No, but it’s a make-believe world. She tells me stories and we add to ittogether.”
“Humor me,” Mark said. “Where does she say these wagonsare?”
“In the deep, dark woods, so far away that no one can find the way. She has a nice fairy godmother who gives her sweet cookies. Her hair looks like spider legs, and she wears a dress made of colorful ribbons. I thought it was her imagination.” Linx’s voice trailed off. “What if it’s one of the transient people who hang out at thecampground?”
“That’s what we’re afraid of,” Pastor Mark said. “I’ll pass this information to yourbrother.”
“I have to get back and help findher.”
“If you think of something, let us know,” Mark said. “By the way, I need to ask you something. Jean and I are very upset you didn’t tellus.”
“Tell youwhat?”
“Is Grady Hart Jessie’s biological father?” The pastor sounded stern and accusing. “How come you told us you didn’t know who he was? How could you have let us adopt Jessie without consent of thefather?”
“I’m sorry. I lied, but I’ll make up for it. I’ll do anything you want,” Linx pleaded, her heart wrung out and dry. “But please, don’t take it out on Grady. He deserves to know the truth, and he’ll be wonderful with Jessie. You can ban me for the rest of my life, but don’t take her away from Grady.Don’t.”
“We can talk about this later. After we findJessie.”
