Page 26 of Once Removed (Blackhawk Security)

“Smart,” Brody said. “How long have you been out here?”

She shrugged that shoulder again. “I don’t know. Three weeks? Maybe four? Lost track.”

“So you were here when those buildings burned down?” Lainey asked, horrified that Phoebe had been in danger.

“Yeah. I hide when I hear someone close by. When that fire started, I ran into the woods outside the fence.”

Brody sat up straighter. “Do you hear people around this compound often?”

She nodded. “Someone else is living here. I don’t know who it is, but I hear footsteps at night. That’s when I hide. Sleep.”

Lainey wouldn’t ask where she hid. Phoebe would want to protect herself and her hiding place.

“Why did you come out here, Phoebe?” Lainey asked quietly. “I can see the appeal of checking it out, but why did you stay? And even if you just wanted to explore, why did you walk eight miles to get here?”

Phoebe bent her head and rested her forehead on her knees. She didn’t make a sound, but Lainey saw her shoulders shaking and knew she was weeping.

Letting go of Brody’s hand, she crawled over to Phoebe’s side and curled her arm around the girl’s shoulders. The girl stiffened, but Lainey pulled her tight against her side. After a long moment, Phoebe turned her head into Lainey’s neck and sobbed.

Wrapping both arms around Phoebe’s shoulders, Lainey drew her close and rubbed a hand over her back. She spoke gently, telling her they’d help her fix whatever was wrong. After a long bout of sobbing, Phoebe sniffed several times, as if trying to control herself.

Lainey continued to hold her, continued to stroke her back. Didn’t say a word. She exchanged a look with Brody, and saw sympathy and sadness in his eyes. She knew without asking that he’d do whatever he could to help Phoebe.

Finally, with one final sniff, Phoebe dragged her forearm over her face again and sat up straight. But she didn’t move away from Lainey. When Lainey took her hand, Phoebe didn’t jerk away.

“Phoebe, what were you looking for when you came out here?” Lainey asked.

The girl’s gaze jerked to Lainey, her expression shocked. As if she’d been sure she’d hidden the fact that she was searching for someone or something.

Lainey squeezed her hand. “We’re not going to tell anyone,” she assured Phoebe. “We’ll help you find it, if we can.”

Phoebe drew circles in the dirt with the toe of her green Chucks. Sucked in a deep, shuddering breath. “I was looking for my father,” she finally muttered.

Brody leaned a little closer. “Why did you think he might be here?”

At that, she looked up. “He worked here before it closed. He came home for a week or two, but then he disappeared. I thought maybe he was out here.”

“So you came looking for him,” Lainey said.

Phoebe nodded. “I needed money for food,” she muttered.

“Can you tell us your dad’s name?” Lainey asked.

Phoebe swallowed. Dug the toe of her shoe into the dirt. Peeked at Lainey out of the corner of her eye. Glanced at Brody. “Art,” she finally whispered. “Art Larsen.”

Lainey didn’t know him. She glanced at Brody, but his face was unreadable. “Where’s your mom?”

“She died,” Phoebe said, her voice desolate. Bleak. “Two years ago. Cancer.”

“I’m so sorry,” Lainey whispered. “That’s horrible. Beyond awful. You must miss her so much.”

Phoebe nodded and stared at those green Chucks.

“How long since you’ve seen your dad?” Brody asked.

Phoebe drew a deep breath. “A few months. He left food when he disappeared. A little money. But I ate all the food, and used the money to buy more. After that was gone, I came out here because I thought he might be here. And I figured there might be food that was left behind. Food I could take home and eat.” She swallowed. “There were cans in the mess hall, and I ate those until the fire. Since then I’ve eaten the apples.”

Her heart breaking for this child, Lainey asked, “Did you wonder if the person you’re hearing is your father?”

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