“Oh God.” My heart pounds frantically against my chest. I try to remain calm but everything inside of me wants to fall apart. Instead, I tell her to keep me posted and that I’ll be home as soon as I can before I end the call.
“Caroline’s missing,” I croak, my voice not cooperating with my brain. I can feel his questioning eyes on me as I finish slipping my panties and shorts in place. Reaching for my shirt, I move to step around him but he grabs my arm.
“I have to go, Linc.” My lip quivers and I can feel the emotions building like a tidal wave inside of me, but somehow, I hold them at bay.
Linc cradles my face, offering me what little comfort he can. “I’m coming with you.”
Linc makes a few phone calls, and thankfully, we’re able to board his label’s private jet within the hour. Aside from making the arrangements, and the occasional reassuring squeeze of my hand, he hasn’t spoken a word. Which is good because I’m afraid of what I’ll say if he does speak to me. I’m riddled with guilt and fear and the combination is wreaking havoc on my frantic heart.
I call my mother as soon as we land but there is still no word. Caroline has been missing for exactly six hours now and in those three hundred and sixty minutes I have prayed a thousand prayers.
Please let her be okay.
Please let her be okay.
Please let her be okay.
When we finally pull onto my parents’ street there are two squad cars parked in the driveway. I rush from the car before Linc even has it in park. Dread curls its cruel fingers around my heart and lungs, suffocating me with each step I take toward the house. My feet are heavy as I cross the threshold into what I am sure is my certain hell, and follow the voices coming from the kitchen.
Deputies Carl Burns and Ricky Bolton are there, along with both of my parents. Sheriff Griffin holds a recent school photo of my Caroline. My knees buckle beneath me but Linc is there to catch me before I hit the floor.
“Anything?” Linc asks. Thankfully, because I don’t have the courage to.
My mother steps forward, her hand resting on my arm. “Not yet.”
“We’ll find her, Sylvie,” Sheriff Griffin says softly.
I try to find comfort in his words, but until I know she’s home and safe with me, there is nothing he can say that will ease my worried mind. “Do you know anyone who would want to take Caroline?”
Since my mother’s phone call, I’ve rolled the very same question over in my mind at least a dozen times, and there’s not a single soul I can think of that would do this.
“No,” I whisper.
“Can you think of anyone who has a vendetta against you? Have you had a falling out with anyone at work? Or perhaps Dean had enemies you were unaware of.”
The moment he mentions Dean I sag in Linc’s embrace. “Dani.”
My mother gasps and Linc tenses. Why the hell didn’t I think about her before? Would she actually take Caroline? I know she wouldn’t hurt her, but would she take her just to hurt me?
“Dean’s sister?” the sheriff questions.
“Yes.” I swallow hard, trying to find the words to speak instead of falling apart. I can’t believe this is happening. “We…we got into an argument recently when she came to visit Caroline. She was upset…about Linc and I being together, and that I won’t let her be alone with Caroline, but I don’t think she would hurt her.”
He nods to Deputy Bolton and he steps out of the room with his radio close to his mouth.
“We’ll check her last known address then go from there. I think you should go home and wait there. I’ll keep you posted, but just in case she comes home, someone needs to be there.”
“No.” I shake my head frantically. “I can’t leave. I need to be here. I need to know what’s happening.”
Linc pulls me against his chest. “There’s nothing you can do here, baby. The sheriff’s right. Let’s go home in case she shows up there.”
I nod, burying my face in his chest, praying nothing happens to my little girl.
Present
There is only so much a person can take before they break. Before they lie down and let the pain and despair consume them completely. I’ve overcome a lot. I got married and had a baby at seventeen. I watched the father of my child take his own life. Found the courage to face his death and began to pick up the pieces.
But losing Caroline…
