“Dylan … come on,” Brian said.
Dylan glanced at his dad but didn’t budge. His eyes met mine.
“Go,” I told him. “I’ll talk to the police. Then I’ll get you to see your mom as soon as I can.”
He held my gaze for a long moment, lips parting like he might protest, but then he turned and followed Brian down the hallway.
“There’s an empty room over there where we can talk,” Detective Nolan said, nodding toward an ER bay with glass doors.
But I didn’t move.
“I want to see my daughter first,” I insisted.
He paused. “I understand this is incredibly hard. But I promise you she’s stable. They’re just running a few more tests.”
I thought about fighting him over this. But then Amanda and I followed.
We stepped into a small ER exam room with a hospital bed and machines everywhere.
He closed the glass door behind Amanda and me, then pulled the curtain closed.
“Again, I’m so sorry for what you’re all going through,” he said.
Amanda’s face twisted, and tears poured out again. I placed my hand gently on her back, stroking it up and down in slow passes.
“This is something nobody should ever have to go through,” the detective said softly, shaking his head.
“What happened?” My voice trembled. “None of this makes any sense.”
His eyes bounced from Amanda to me. “Your daughter and Zach Nabb went missing last night.”
“Last night?” I blinked. “Why didn’t anyone call me?”
“Brian tried,” Amanda mumbled through trembling lips.
I remembered his call. And the way he didn’t want to speak to the kids. But it wasn’t unusual for Brian to ignore the kids when he didn’t feel like being a parent.
“We didn’t want to worry you,” she added. “We thought maybe they hit traffic. Or stopped to get snacks and drinks for the weekend. Something normal. Something harmless. Not … this.”
Her voice shook on the last word.
“So what happened?” I asked as my jaw tightened.
“We’re still working on the details,” Nolan said. “But Mr. Nabb’s car was found on a private dirt road this morning. The owner of the property said his dog had been nervous early in the morning, and when he let his dog out, it ran off barking. He followed the dog, found the car, and called the police.” Hepaused for a moment. “Mr. Nabb was found murdered in the driver’s seat.”
The walls felt too close, and my ribs too tight.
“M-murdered?” The word stuttered out of me as Amanda put her face in her hands.
Nolan nodded. “Stabbed. Your daughter was found unconscious in the woods nearby. She had a head injury and was covered in blood from head to toe.”
The room swayed. I couldn’t breathe. My arms clamped around Amanda again, but this time to support both of us.
“I’m … so sorry,” I whispered. “How unthinkable. Poor Zach.” My words came out fast and raw. “Did you find who did this?”
“Not yet,” Nolan said.
“Not yet?” My voice rose. “Somebody killed—” I choked. Swallowed hard. “Killed Zach. And tried to kill my daughter. And the person who did it is still out there? What if he comes back?” My words exploded. “What if he comes after my daughter to finish the job? Or Amanda?”
