He had noticed the pickup. He had spotted the stranger.
And he could see Ellie waiting at the top of the stairs.
Finally, I voiced the question weighing on me.
“What exactly was that man planning?”
“We haven’t established his intentions,” Deputy Reed replied. “What we have confirmed is that he falsely identified himself as Ellie’s relative and tried to arrange her release into his care.”
“Did he intend to take her away?”
“That’s something our investigation is trying to establish.”
My hands started trembling once more.
But anger wasn’t responsible this time.
It was genuine fear.
I turned toward my daughter.
She was sketching an uneven heart on some paper.
For the first time since watching that bus disappear, I considered what might have occurred if Frank had simply opened the doors and allowed Ellie to leave.
The stranger had been nearby.
Near enough to speak directly to her. Near enough to invent another urgent situation. Near enough that I might not have noticed him until Ellie had already begun approaching.
