Page 8

Four years ago

“Any sightings?” I asked my private investigator.

Stohl’s voice was grim when he said, “Not a one. I’m sorry, Black. I’m going to keep looking.”

The problem with your daughter disappearing so young was that it was hard to guess what she would look like at eighteen.

Sure, computer models were somewhat accurate, but anything could happen.

She could have freckles.

She could change her hair color.

She could have plastic surgery.

She could dress goth.

So many factors went into finding a missing child.

And the more years that passed, the harder it became.

What if she doesn’t want to be found?

I asked myself that constantly.

Maybe she didn’t.

Maybe she did.

Whatever the case, I would never stop looking. Not until I found her safe and sound.

If she decided that she didn’t want to see me after I found her, then I’d give her that out.

But until then…

“Sheriff.”

I looked up to find Harding staring at me with concern.

“What is it, Harding?”

I’d just gotten into the office.

Literally, this was the fourth minute I’d been sitting down, for Christ’s sake.

“A call came in,” Harding said. “Leo Darling. He said that he woke up for school, got ready, and found both of his parents outside dead in their rocking chairs.”

I closed my eyes.

Darling.

That name had been haunting me for years.

It’d started with Marcia.

She hadn’t been able to stand Darla.

Then, she’d left me because I was “too close” to Darla.