“I love you, Momma.”
Why is my heart still racing? “I love you too, sweetie.”
Back in the living room, Walter sits on the couch while Scott stands in front of him, arms crossed, watching.
Dizzy, I take a moment to lean against the hallway wall.
Maddie comes to me. “I peeked in while you were talking to her.” She blows out a long breath and sniffs. “I tried to reach Nathan, but it went to voicemail.”
“What’s wrong with him?” I ask, remembering Walter’s skittishness and his lost eyes.
“I think he’s delusional,” she whispers. “He seems to be telling the truth about trying to help Natalie, but nothing he’s saying is coherent.”
“Natalie said another man tried to grab her first. She said Walter was waiting in the trees and came to her rescue.”
“The guy in the Rover has to be the one Natalie’s talking about. There’s no good excuse for what he did. He’s dangerous. And Nathan’s out there looking for him.”
“God, Maddie, I thought I’d lost her.”
She lifts my face. “Should we call the police?”
“Not yet. I want to talk to him first. Then we’ll try Nathan again.”
Back in the living room, I take a closer look at Walter.
He’s dressed in nice clothes, but it looks like he’s been wearing them for a few days. His trim beard has grown out, and I’m not sure if he’s brushed his teeth. I place my hand on his shoulder.
“Hello, Walter.”
His eyes are kind and a little more focused than before.
“I want to keep her safe. He will hurt her.”
I inhale sharply.
“Nathan is alive again?” he asks. He fidgets, tapping his knees with his hands.
I pull a throw off the couch and put it around him.
“Yes, Nathan has amnesia, but he’s back home.”
“Amnesia?” Standing, he wobbles around the room, jerking his arms up and down. “Oh no! Go. He’s coming!” he shouts, wild-eyed.
“Who’s coming? Nathan?”
He shakes his head rapidly from side to side while twisting his hands.
I grip his shoulders. “Walter. What’s his name? Who is theBig, Mean Man?”
He shoves me away and I have to catch myself from falling. Scott moves toward him. When I lift a hand to stop Scott, both Scott’s and Maddie’s phones ring out at the same time. We alllook at each other. Maddie answers hers while Scott steps into the corner to answer his.
“Hannah? Hannah?” Maddie’s worried voice sharpens. “Hannah, are you okay?”
I watch as all I hear on the other end are incoherent sobs—until Scott swears and storms out the front door. Oh no.
“No…” Maddie’s voice breaks as she chokes down sobs of her own. The adrenaline that had finally mostly left my system surges back with a vengeance. Tears are pouring down her cheeks.
I’m too afraid to ask her what’s going on.
