Page 74 of Little Child Gone

Liam didn’t answer right away, working to control his emotions. “Your dad slipped right before you reached him. Not your fault.”

He didn’t look at Nikki, but she didn’t need to see his eyes to know the truth didn’t matter. Jared was gone.

THIRTY-ONE

Christy survived surgery and was in recovery. The bullet had caused a lot of internal damage, but lying in the freezing cold and snow had slowed the bleeding enough that doctors had managed to save her life. The kids had been all but silent during the ride back to Stillwater, with the exception of Penny asking her sister questions about every little thing. Lacey had been the same way at that age. She still talked all the time and asked a lot of questions. Rory said that meant she was smart. Her teachers mostly agreed, but Lacey had a knack for asking tough questions about the world and making her teachers give her some kind of answer.

Since the sheriff’s station was on the way to the hospital, they stopped so Miller and Liam could go in and start working on the report. Nikki loaded the kids into the big Jeep and headed to Lakeview Hospital.

She glanced in the back seat at Amelia, who’d been mostly silent save for whispering to Penny.

“I’m sorry this happened to you,” Nikki said. “And I want you to know that without Taylor, we wouldn’t have found the cabin.”

“I knew he’d figure it out.” Amelia finally spoke, her soft voice barely audible. “I wanted to tell you, Agent Hunt. I tried when I showed you the shoes. But Taylor said we couldn’t trust anyone. ‘Don’t tell anyone until I come back.’” She hesitated for a few moments. “He said to undress in the bathroom, behind the shower curtain, in case he had cameras in there.”

“You didn’t tell me,” Caden said from the front passenger seat. “You didn’t tell me he killed my real mom.”

“I didn’t know the whole story,” Amelia said. “Taylor said to wait until he came home.”

Nikki glanced at Caden. “Christy loves you as her own, Caden. Finding out Jared lied about what happened to your mother isn’t going to change that. She’s raised you. Don’t forget that.”

“She loves my dad more, and he’s gone.” Caden’s voice cracked.

“Let’s not talk about that moment.” Nikki didn’t want Caden confessing to pushing his father into the water. The more she knew, the harder it would be to forget. “I think it’s one of those things you should work through in therapy. You know, they have to keep your privacy, no matter what? The only exception is if you’re in danger.”

“I dreamed about it all the time when I was little. Dad kept telling me it was a nightmare.”

“You were Penny’s age,” Nikki reminded him. “Your mind was protecting you.”

“What happened to them?” Caden asked.

“Can you tell me what happened at the house before Jared took you guys first?” Nikki wasn’t sure how much Caden actually knew about his past.

“It’s my fault,” Amelia said. “Mom heard me crying, and I told her about the camera. She lost it. She kept saying how stupid she was, thinking if she took it, Jared would leave me alone. She never told me what ‘it’ was, but I knew what she meant. That’s why he soundproofed their room.”

“Your mom confronted Jared?”

“She told me and Caden to take Penny into my room and lock the door,” Amelia said. “And not to open it for Jared.” Her voice cracked. “I’ve heard them arguing, but he was beating her and saying all of these awful things. I knew there was a pistol in their closet, because I’d found it one day when I was looking for something to borrow from Mom. I take archery at middle school. I have good aim.” She started sobbing.

Nikki had a sinking suspicion she knew what Amelia was about to say.

“I shot at him, I swear,” Amelia burst out.

“He grabbed Mom and used her as a shield,” Caden said. “It’s not your fault.”

That likely explained why the bullet had missed enough vital organs that Christy had survived. “No, it isn’t your fault,” Nikki agreed. “Jared did this. He played on your mom’s vulnerability and did terrible things.”

Nikki parked in Lakeview’s emergency lot, close to the door. Miller had called ahead to the hospital and arranged for them to be escorted to the ICU. A hospital volunteer greeted them, curiosity burning in her eyes. She led them through a maze of hallways to the elevator to the ICU. They rode up in silence, tension hanging between them.

The volunteer used her card to unlock the ICU doors. “The charge desk is straight ahead. They’ll take you to the patient.”

“Taylor!” Penny’s shrill voice echoed in the hall. She ran to her older brother, who scooped her up and hugged her tight. Amelia followed, throwing her arms around her brother and crying. “It’s my fault. I was trying to hit him. He pulled her into the way?—”

Taylor pulled his sister close. “It’s okay. Mom didn’t hit him with the bottle. I didn’t see it.” Tears streamed down his face. “I just said I did to protect Jared, like an idiot.”

Caden hung back, hands in his pockets, until Taylor grabbed his arm. The three siblings huddled close, whispering. Caden started to sob, and Taylor grabbed him by his shoulders and turned Caden to face him. “Do not cry for him. Ever. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“She’s going to take me away from you,” Caden said. “I just know it.”

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