Eve wasn’t good. Or maybe she’d been good once. All she cared about was how he made her feel. She’d begged him not to leave her. He’d kissed her one last time, and then he disappeared from her life.
Eve told herself it didn’t matter that he didn’t want her. She was free. She focused on work and keeping Abby out of trouble, which was often a full-time job. She had one-night stands when she was feeling lonely, but she never got close to anyone, never let anyone in. She hadn’t thought about Tommy until this very second, but now she found herself seized with an overwhelming urge to kiss him. How inappropriate, she thought. How awful. Eve looked out the window, hating herself for being so self-absorbed, for even thinking about him.
She felt his hand on her knee, squeezing gently as if to say he was here for her. Eve had never been more grateful for his kindness. Once they were all in the car, Tommy surveyed Lily in his rearview mirror.
“Lily, can you tell me where we’re going?” Tommy asked.
Lily was staring out at the neighbors, who had gathered to watch the scene with unabashed curiosity. Eve’s face flushed with embarrassment, knowing the neighbors were probably gossiping about what new tragedy had struck the Risers.
“The high school. We’re going to the high school.”
Abby gasped. Eve didn’t even think. She grabbed Tommy’s hand and squeezed it, feeling the bile rising up in her throat. She racked her brain for a list of suspects, but no one came to mind. It was a stranger. It had to be. All these years, she’d comforted herself by thinking some nameless monster had snatched her daughter away. Was it possible that it was someone they knew? Someone they trusted?
She leaned her head against the cold glass window, fighting her urge to ask Lily more questions. They drove through town in silence, arriving at the entrance of the high school in less than ten minutes. Tommy turned off the engine, waiting for Lily to speak, to give them a name. Eve could tell he was on edge. He was a man used to being in charge, used to having the necessary information to properly assess a situation. Lily had denied him that, and her actions didn’t sit well with him. Eve didn’t blame Tommy. She wanted answers too.
“We need a name, Lily,” he said. “Whoever kept you prisoner, he’s disturbed. We have to be prepared and—”
“He’s only disturbed behind closed doors,” Lily said.
“We need to do our job…”
Lily remained unmoved.
“I said I’d take you to him. And I will.”
She climbed out of the car. Tommy muttered a curse under his breath. But there was no stopping Lily. Eve had seen that same expression on her daughter’s face when Lily stood in the kitchen clutching that knife. Nothing anyone could say was going to stop her. All they could do was follow along.
CHAPTER TEN
LILY
Everything looks exactly the same. That was Lily’s first thought when they’d pulled up at the entrance of Lancaster Day School. The American flag flying high above the building, the red brick and stucco and large airy open windows were all so… ordinary.
Lily thought back to the girl she’d been in high school. She’d loved coming here. She would have been a total dork if she hadn’t been athletically gifted. She’d won top attendance her freshman and sophomore years. She always made the A honor roll. She was a member of every club her schedule would allow. She’d readily embraced high school’s absurdities, all of its ups and downs.
Today there was a group of wide-eyed high school kids milling around the quad, laughing and teasing each other. Was it possible she’d ever been that young and hopeful? Lily wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, “You’re wasting time. Don’t waste it.” But that would be pointless. That was the privilege of being young, she realized. Lily would have wasted her freedom too.
As she stood staring at the school, Sky slept in her arms. Lily realized that she had another decision to make. She had never let her child out of her sight. Maybe she should listen to the sheriff and let him handle it. But she knew Rick was here. She knew how close he was. This was her chance to make sure, to know with absolute certainty that he would be caught. Lily knew there was no other option. She had to finish this. But she wouldn’t put Sky at the center of it. Lily knew her mother would protect Sky, that all these cops would make sure they were protected.
“Mom, can you stay here with Sky? Will you keep her safe?”
Without hesitation, Eve enveloped the sleeping child in her arms. “I’ll take care of her, Lil. Just be careful.”
Lily gave Sky one more gentle kiss. She took Abby’s hand, leading her to the entrance of the school as Sheriff Rogers and an army of officers followed. As they neared the entrance, an older woman with salt-and-pepper hair, glasses, and a forceful gaze intercepted Sheriff Rogers.