They delivered those lines with the confidence of people who expected to be believed.
Until that night, I had believed them more often than I wanted to admit.
I grabbed my keys and headed downstairs.
Adam followed me into the kitchen.
“I’m coming with you.”
“Stay here in case she calls again.”
“Natalie—”
“I need you watching the phone.”
He studied my face for a moment, then nodded.
“Call me the second you get there.”
Rain hammered the windshield as I backed out of the driveway.
The roads were nearly empty, and the wipers moved at full speed without clearing the glass for more than a second at a time.
Locked in.
Hungry.
Scared.
The words followed me through every intersection.
I wanted to believe there was an explanation that would make the call less terrible.
Maybe Lizzy had hidden somewhere after being punished.
Maybe a door had jammed.
