Seeing this sweet, delicate child in such pain was horrible, but Eve was grateful for the buffer Sky provided. No matter what Eve wanted to do to Rick Hanson, what punishments she wanted to inflict—and the list was endless—she had a more important task: keeping her granddaughter safe. But she understood Sky’s pain. Understood the desperation and longing to be near your parent… or your child. It didn’t matter that Sky’s father was a monster. Her love for him was real. In that moment, the pinching ache in Eve’s neck coursed through her entire body. She fought to keep the pain away, to focus on the present moment the way the doctors advised. The pain always showed up when she was stressed. Stop thinking about yourself. Focus on this right here.
The squad car carrying Rick Hanson pulled away, and Lily burst out of the school, ignoring the onlookers as she raced over to Eve. Lily swung open the police car door and plucked a hysterical Sky from Eve’s arms, holding the little girl tightly, hugging and kissing her.
“Don’t worry, Chicken. There’s no trouble. Not anymore.”
“I saw Daddy Rick but he didn’t see me. Is he mad at us?”
“No. We’re fine. Daddy Rick has to go away for a while, but you and I are going to be okay. We’re always okay, aren’t we?”
Sky sobbed into her mother’s shoulder, whimpering for Rick, but this time Lily didn’t calm her. She held on, letting Sky weep as Lily turned her attention to Eve. Lily was gesturing to the EMTs who were wheeling Abby out.
“I don’t know what happened to Abby… but she lost it.”
Eve gazed at her other damaged child and shook her head, not quite sure how to tell Lily what Abby had endured, not sure if it was fair to let her know how hard it had been.
“Abby gets this way sometimes. Since you… since you were taken, she’s… she’s struggled.”
Lily didn’t comment. Instead, she pulled Eve toward the ambulance where emergency personnel were loading Abby into the back. They’d given Abby sedatives and she was groggy, whispering, “Mr. Hanson. It was Mr. Hanson.”
Eve grabbed Abby’s hand.
“Abby, you’re okay. It’s Mom. I’m here. Lily and I are both here.”
“I shouldn’t have done this. I didn’t think. I’m so very sorry,” Lily whispered.
Eve took in Lily’s guilt-ridden expression.
“Don’t you dare apologize,” Eve said. As far as she was concerned, Lily got a lifelong free pass. Besides, Lily could never have known about Abby’s breakdowns, that they happened with such frequency they had become the norm. “It’s done, Lil. That’s all that matters. Now we can get you both help.”
Eve could tell that Lily was finally starting to falter. Pale and trembling, the adrenaline had likely worn off and she was unsteady on her feet. Eve gestured to the EMT and she took Lily’s hand and helped her into the ambulance. Lily motioned for Eve to follow.
“You’re coming, right?” she said to Eve.
But the EMT shook her head.
“Sorry, Mrs. Riser, but I’m afraid there’s not room for all of you.”
“I want you with us. Please, Mom,” Lily begged, her eyes welling with tears. Eve knew this was a safety issue; they couldn’t have too many passengers, but she hated telling Lily no.
“Eve, I’ll drive. We’ll be right behind you, Lily,” Tommy said, gesturing toward his nearby cruiser.
Lily stared at Sky and Abby, exhaustion and worry winning out.
“You promise?”
Eve nodded. “We’re right behind you.”
With Sky still in her arms, Lily reached out and hugged Eve, and then she sank down onto the gurney and let the EMT close the ambulance doors.
Eve found herself separated from her girls once again. She wanted to bang on the doors, to insist that she go with them, but instead she let Tommy usher her toward his patrol car. As they hurried along, Eve realized how many people were watching them. Dozens and dozens of students were taking pictures, filming them with their phones. She wanted to scream. What was wrong with them? Why would anyone want to document this? Eve couldn’t fight the tidal wave of shame washing over her. She’d always been a private person, always kept to herself. Even after Lily went missing, Dave was the one who did all the press conferences. Now, people were going to ask endless questions—probing questions—about Lily and her sex life and all the things Rick had done to her. All Eve wanted to do was get away from this place, away from all these prying eyes and lenses. As they climbed into the car and pulled out of the parking lot, sirens and lights flashing, the ambulance leading the way, Tommy shook his head in disbelief.
“It’s a miracle, Evie. It’s a goddamn miracle.”
A heavy silence lingered, both of them trying to process what they’d witnessed. Eve finally spoke.
“I don’t understand. I’ll never…”
“Been a cop for twenty-eight years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. Goddamn it, Eve, this is proof that evil is real. It’s not Scripture. It’s living and breathing and walking around among us; I’ll tell you that right now.”
A thought struck Eve as she listened to him. What if the driver of that ambulance was involved? A friend of Rick Hanson’s, maybe. Eve knew it was irrational, but they’d trusted Rick Hanson. Maybe there were more people involved. Why did she always have to follow the rules? Why hadn’t she insisted on going with her girls? The thought of losing them again was too much to bear.