We had done it. Fighting, building, correcting, warring, grieving. Losing, hating, winning, weeping. We had been messy and tumultuous and bitter and determined. But we had done it. And never, until this moment, had I missed my parents so much. Until my fingers closed around my necklace and I swore that I could feel them standing beside me in this cold, dank space.
And I realized, in that instant, that I would've done the same thing if I'd been them. I would've moved heaven and earth to save my child. Given up my job, my identity, my community, even my life. It would've been worth it to me, too. That's what being a parent was all about.
I love you, I love you, I love you, I tried to tell them. I had to believe that they could hear me. If only because without that bit of faith, I'd be no better than Mr. Petracelli, drowning in a sea of bitterness and regret.
Onward and upward, my father had always said. This will be the best place yet!
"Onward and upward," I whispered. "All right, Daddy, let's get this done."
I organized the luggage, locked up my storage unit, then whistled for Bella. Given the load, I'd have to make two trips. I started with the largest piece, strapping another piece on top, then hooked one of the smaller bags over my shoulder.
I shuffled my way through the narrow corridor between storage units. Looked up.
And saw Charlie Marvin silhouetted at the top of the stairs, his eyes peering down and finding me in the gloom.
BOBBY WAS HEADING for Sinkus's cubicle when his cell phone chirped. He checked caller ID, then answered. "You got the fax?"
"Hello to you, too," said Catherine.
"Sorry. Lotsa things happening."
"As I can tell from the fax. Well, then, to answer your question, the drawing could be of the same man."
"Could be?"
"Bobby, it's been twenty-seven years."
"You recognized the photo of Annabelle's father easily enough," he countered.
"Annabelle's father interacted with me." Catherine sounded annoyed. "He argued and pushed me until I grew angry with him. That made an impression. The sketch, on the other hand… What I remember most is my first thought—the man in the drawing wasn't the man who attacked me."
Bobby sighed. What he needed now was something more definitive. "But it's possible this sketch is the same sketch you were shown in the hospital?"
"It's possible," she agreed. Moment's pause. "Who is it?"
"Annabelle's uncle, Tommy Grayson. Turns out he started stalking Annabelle when she was about eighteen months old. Her family fled from Philadelphia to Arlington in an attempt to get away from him. He found them."
"Did Tommy know Richard?"
"Not that we know of. Tommy probably got the idea for using an underground chamber, though, by watching your case on the news."
"Happy to help," Catherine murmured dryly.
Because he knew her better than most, Bobby stopped walking. "It's not your fault."
She didn't say anything.
"And anyway," he continued briskly, "now that we know Tommy's name, the case is almost done. We'll get him, lock him up, and that will be that."
"You'll come to Arizona to celebrate?"
"Catherine…"
"I know, Bobby. You'll take Annabelle to dinner to celebrate."
His turn to be silent.
"I like her, Bobby Honestly It makes me feel good to know that she will be happy."
"Someday, you'll be happy, too."
"No, Bobby, not me. But maybe I'll be less angry. Good luck with your case, Bobby."
"Thank you."
"And when it's over, feel free for you and Annabelle to come visit."
Bobby knew he'd never take Catherine up on that offer, but he thanked her before ending the call.
One detail down, about twelve more to go. He headed for Sinkus's cubicle.
SINKUS WAS MIFFED, the boy who'd gone to the stadium then looked away at the last minute and missed the game-winning play. He also smelled of sour milk.
"You mean all along this professor knew the whole story?"
"Guess so."
"Oh man, I spent three hours with Jill Cochran. All I learned is that former mental-ward administrators are tougher than Catholic nuns."
Bobby frowned. "What, she rapped your knuckles with a yardstick?"
"No, she delivered a blistering lecture on how unfair it is to always assume the worst of the mentally ill. That wackos are people, have rights. Most are harmless, just misunderstood. 'Mark my words,' she told me, 'you find who did this, and I guarantee it won't be one of our patients. No, it'll be some fine upstanding member of the community. Someone who goes to church, spoils his kids, and works nine to five. It's always the normal ones who commit the truly vile acts against God.' Woman had a lot of opinions on the subject."
"So, where are the records?" Bobby asked, trying not to sound impatient.
"You're looking at 'em." Sinkus gestured to four cardboard boxes, stacked against the wall. "Not as bad as I feared. Remember, the place closed precomputerization. I thought we might be talking hundreds of boxes. But when the facility shut down, Mrs. Cochran knew they couldn't hang on to piles of patient history So she condensed down the files to a manageable size. This way when someone needs information on a former patient, she knows where to start. Plus, I got the impression she was thinking of using her years at the place to write a book. Kind of a tell-all with a heart."