I nod, already heading for the stairs.“Sure.I’m going to give Megan her keys.”
“Dinner’s almost ready if you want to stay!”Mom calls after me.
“Can’t tonight, Mom.Big launch tomorrow,” I call back, taking the stairs two at a time.
Megan’s door is half-open, and I can hear her muttering to herself inside.I knock twice before pushing the door wider.
“Special delivery,” I announce, dangling her car keys.“One overpriced German engineering marvel, good as new.”
Megan doesn’t look up from her desk, where she’s surrounded by what looks like hundreds of photographs.She’s wearing a pair of trendy oversized glasses as she studies the images intently.
“Just put them on the bed,” she says distractedly, shuffling through the pictures.
I toss the keys onto her comforter and walk closer.“What’s with all these kid photos?”
That gets her attention.She glances at me over the rims of her glasses.“It’s for a project.”
“What kind of project requires a million pictures of kids?”I ask, peering over her shoulder at the scattered photos.
“It’s for my internship,” she explains, suddenly animated.“We’re designing a children’s clothing line, and I have to choose models for the catalog shoot.”
I glance at the photos spread across her desk.They’re professional headshots of children, all around six to eight years old, with profiles and information clipped to each one.
“Aren’t they a little young to be models?”I ask, frowning as I pick up one of the headshots.
“It’s just for a catalog,” Megan shrugs.“Child models make good money these days.Some of these kids are supporting their families.”
I put down the photo, looking at the dozens of others.My eyes linger on one of them, and I frown.I pick it up, and something tugs at the back of my mind, an uncomfortable prickling sensation that I can’t quite place.I’ve seen this kid before.I know it.I just—Where though?
“Who is this?Has he been in something before?”I ask, trying to keep my voice casual even as my heart rate picks up.Maybe I saw him in some billboard or clothing ad.That could be why he looks so eerily familiar.
Megan glances at the photo I’m holding up.“Oh, no.He’s got a brother.The two have been in small local commercials.They’re from a small town in Tennessee.They just arrived here.Their mother wants to give them some exposure.”
“A brother.”My heart is racing now.“You have any more pictures of them?”
Megan looks at me blankly for a minute.“Ah, yeah.Look behind you.There are some folders.Their portfolio should be there.”
As I search through them, she continues working.“Those two are actually my top picks.They’re brothers—the older one is eight and the younger is six.They have a single mom, so the project would really help them financially.”
I freeze, my hand hovering over the images.“You’re sure about that?A single mom?”
“Yeah,” she says, giving me a curious look.“Why?What’s going on with you?”
I flip the folder open, and my blood runs cold.There they are—more photos of the same children, but in different settings.My eyes land on one particular picture that has me freezing.No wonder I thought they looked familiar.My mind is racing now, pieces clicking together with a sickening finality.
Fuck.
“I have to go,” I say abruptly, grabbing her keys from where I just tossed them onto the bed, already backing toward the door.
“What?Hey!Where’re you going with my keys?”Megan’s voice rises in irritation.“Caleb!”
I shake my head, unable to explain.“I’ve got to get back to the office.”
“Caleb!”she calls after me again as I rush down the hallway.
My mother emerges from the kitchen as I hurry down the stairs.“Sweetheart?Where are you?—”
“Sorry, Mom.I’ve gotta go.I’ll take Megan’s car.”
