The Girl Who Disappeared Twice

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Hero had finished sniffing out the station at Cold Spring, and the team was racing to Beacon when Casey’s cell phone rang.

“We’re in Poughkeepsie,” Hutch updated her. “She’s not on the train. We manned every exit, searched every car, questioned every passenger. No one noticed her. She’s gone. So she had to have gotten off somewhere between Garrison and here.”

“I doubt it was Cold Spring. I know you have agents here, doing their thing. But Hero hit a dead end. And we took him everywhere-inside the station, up and down the stairs, across every platform-you name it. We’re on our way to Beacon.”

“That means it’s probably either Beacon or New Hamburg. We’ve got agents at both stations. They’re showing Felicity’s picture around, and asking questions. I’m sure you’ll run into them there. Either way, keep me posted.”

“You do the same.” Casey ended the call and filled in her team.

A minute later, they pulled into the Beacon station.

The place was deserted, with just one person and no employees in sight. The members of the task force were walking around, trying to do their thing.

Ryan took off to start looking around. Marc harnessed Hero and began their search. And Casey, reluctantly, stayed behind to babysit Hope. She had no choice. Despite the warning Casey had given her, Hope was at the edge of her seat, craning her neck to see a signal from anyone indicating that Felicity had exited the train here. And if she got that signal-well, that would be a nightmare waiting to happen.

Casey fidgeted in her seat, wishing she could get the hell out of there and assist with the investigation.

As she contemplated her dilemma, a slew of teenagers came sauntering along, laughing and drinking sodas. It looked as if they’d been there for some time. So they’d have to be questioned. Ryan was at the other end of the station. And the kids were about to leave.

Talk about being careful what you wished for. Casey was screwed.

“Hey, you stay put,” a muffled voice called from outside the van. “I’ll talk to them.”

Casey’s head whipped around, and she blinked as she saw Patrick standing beside the van.

He gave a half smile at the stunned expression on her face. “I might not be Claire, but I have a sixth sense for knowing when I’m needed. Besides, I wanted to be a part of bringing this thirty-two-year nightmare to a close. So I drove up here. You hang out with Judge Willis. Just lower the window on her side. I’ll interview the kids.”

You’re a lifesaver, Patrick. Casey mouthed the words, but Lynch got them. He turned and waved down the teenagers in that authoritative way of his that made people stop in their tracks. Pointing at Hope’s side of the van, he fired some questions at the teens. Clearly, he was asking if they’d seen a woman who looked like the blond lady sitting in that van.

They all looked over. But there wasn’t a shred of recognition on any of their faces.

Ryan had no better luck, returning to the van and shaking his head, adding that the agents and cops he’d run into were drawing the same blank as he was. A few minutes later, Marc and Hero returned, and Casey could tell by the grim expression on Marc’s face that they, too, had come up empty.

Leaving the task force to continue their work, the Forensic Instincts team left the station for New Hamburg, with Patrick following behind in his car.

“This is our last chance.” Hope’s desperation was a palpable entity. Hysteria was bubbling up inside her and the dam was about to burst. “What if we come up with nothing in New Hamburg? What if Felicity found another way, another train, or car, or direction, to go? What if Krissy isn’t even in this vicinity, and Felicity was just trying to throw us off track?”

“That’s not the case, Hope.” Casey spoke with as much conviction as she could muster. “Felicity’s prime consideration is Krissy, not playing cat and mouse with the FBI. She’s not going to leave Krissy unattended, especially not now, when she knows we’re onto her. We’ll be in New Hamburg in fifteen minutes. Have faith.”

“Faith,” Hope replied bitterly. “I’m not sure I know what that is anymore.”

Krissy heard the commotion from upstairs. It was louder than it had ever been. It scared her.

She curled onto the bed, pressing herself as hard as she could against the wall, as if its solid presence could protect her. She hugged Oreo and Ruby fiercely, her terrified gaze fixed on the door.

More banging and crashing.

Was the woman angry at her? Had she done something wrong? Had the woman figured out that she’d been trying to twist off the doorknob every time she was left alone?

Was she going to hurt her?

Trembling violently, Krissy cringed farther away.

The door swung open, and the woman raced down the stairs, her heels making quick, loud clicks on each step.

“Krissy, get up,” she ordered. Her voice wasn’t gentle and nice the way it usually was. It was high and shrill. Her face looked strange.

“Why?” Krissy asked.

“We’re moving to another house right away.” The woman reached over and grabbed Krissy’s hand. “Come on. We have to hurry.”

“Ow, that hurts.” Krissy held back, clutching Oreo and Ruby even tighter. “Where are we going?”

“Don’t ask questions,” the woman snapped, although she did relax her grasp. “Not now. We don’t have time. I’ll explain everything later. And I’ll create another princess suite later. But not here.” She pulled Krissy off the bed and onto her feet. “Let’s go.”

“No!” Krissy wrenched her hand with all her might.

It paid off. The woman wasn’t ready for Krissy to fight back. Her grip had loosened. Krissy’s hand was free. And so was she.

She’d run up the stairs so many times. But the door had always been locked.

Now it wasn’t. It was wide open.

She raced toward the staircase as fast as she could.

“Wait!” the woman yelled. She was running now, too, coming up quickly behind Krissy.

But Krissy had youth and speed on her side. She blasted up the stairs, nearly tripping over a suitcase. She looked wildly around, finally spotting the kitchen-and the door that she saw led outside. She was through it in seconds.

Fresh air. Woods. Trees everywhere. No open spaces.

It didn’t matter. Krissy didn’t pause. Even if she ran smack into a bear, it would be better than this. She had to get away.

She tore off into the woods, winding her way through the clusters of trees, and vanishing from view.

The New Hamburg train station was different than the others.

There was no set of stairs or overpass connecting the two platforms, or connecting the platforms to the parking lot. Instead, there was a tunnel that all passengers had to walk through to get from place to place. That made it more difficult to locate all those who had to be interviewed.

The task force was already on it. Given the added complexity, they welcomed Ryan and Patrick’s help.

As before, Marc led Hero through the parking lot, into the tunnel and on to the opening of the train station platform. He harnessed the bloodhound and let him sniff Felicity’s scent pad. He kept Hero’s lead taut, but let him explore at will.

They were barely inside the tunnel, when Hero started pulling Marc, sniffing the ground, straining in his harness to keep moving forward.

Marc tightened his grip on the leash, letting Hero sniff the length of the tunnel. The bloodhound moved swiftly, giving sharp, repeated barks.

It was all the confirmation Marc needed.

“Good boy,” he praised. “Let’s go.”

He sprinted Hero back through the tunnel and across the parking lot to the van. “Success!” he called out to Casey, giving her a thumbs-up. He gestured to Ryan and to Patrick, as well as to the task force. “Felicity got off the train at this station. There’s not a doubt in my mind-or in Hero’s.”

“That’s it.” Hope practically jumped off the seat. “We have to find her. I have to go.”

“Not yet.” Casey was already calling Hutch on speed dial. “Racing off without a strategy will only increase the time it takes to find Felicity and Krissy. We need to get organized. Then we’ll act.”

“Casey?” Hutch answered.

“It’s New Hamburg. Hero picked up her scent in the tunnel and on the platform. Marc is sure. And if he’s sure, then I’m sure.”

“We’re on our way.”

Felicity’s heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst out of her chest. Her legs ached. Her throat was sore from shouting Krissy’s name.

Tears filled her eyes, trickled down her cheeks. Oh, Krissy…Krissy, my baby, where are you?

She stopped running long enough to push her hair off her face and peer around. Her face was scratched and bleeding from the branches she’d shoved out of her way. How long a stretch of woods had she covered? It all looked the same. Dirt. Rocks. Trees.

But no Krissy.

Oh, Krissy, why did you run away? I told you I’d keep you safe. I told you we’d find a new home, that I’d build you a new princess suite. What were you so afraid of that made you run?

I did everything right. I know I did everything right. Mama said I did everything right.

But it’s my fault. Mama kept the world away. She kept me safe.

I couldn’t do that for you, Krissy. The world wouldn’t leave us alone. Those horrible FBI people won’t go away. They gave up when it came to me. Why won’t they give up when it comes to you? Why won’t they understand that you’re happy? That we’re both happy? That you’re where you belong?

You saw me be afraid. That’s why you ran. It scared you. Mothers are supposed to hide their fear. To control themselves. To be in charge. To be strong.

I didn’t do that. I was weak.

It won’t happen again.

Please, Krissy, let me help you. I’ll make it better. I’ll take you away. Mama will understand. She knows what you need. You need me. Only me.

But I can’t find you. I have to find you.

Mama’s leaving me. You’re all I have. You’re my whole world now.

And I let you down.

Gasping for breath, seized by panic, Felicity resumed tearing through the woods, zigzagging from tree to tree and shouting Krissy’s name.

Nothing answered back but the wind.