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Oblivious to the somber conversation, Angel continued throwing more food on the floor while humming to herself. Alex remained silent for a few moments, his eyes clouded with sadness. I reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze, hoping to offer some comfort.
"It's so sad," Alex said, finally breaking the silence.
I nodded in agreement, feeling a pang of sadness in my chest. "It is, Alex, but we have to be strong for Thomas and his family. They need our support right now."
Alex nodded solemnly, and Angel continued to play with her food. She was still throwing it on the floor and laughing.
"Angel, please stop," I said, trying to keep my composure.
"Will Thomas be okay?" Alex asked.
"I don't know," I said, evading the truth of Thomas’s father's situation. It was too much to handle for a child of his age, knowing that his father would soon go to jail.
I felt more sadness wash over me. It was a tragic situation, and three children had lost their mother and father in one stroke. I couldn't imagine what they were going through.
I tried to lighten the mood by changing the subject, "So, Angel, did you have fun at daycare today?"
Angel nodded her head vigorously, food still smeared all over her face. I couldn't help but smile at her innocence.
Once the kids were done and went to the living room, Matt grabbed a beer from the fridge, and I opened a bottle of Chardonnay. We raised our glasses to the fact that we had finally caught our killer. As I sipped my wine, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Yes, we had caught the killer, but at what cost? Three children were now left without parents and a family torn apart by tragedy.
And where were those children now? Only John knew.
I looked over at Matt, who looked pensive as well. I knew he was thinking about the same thing I was. We had been so focused on catching John Baker that we had forgotten about the innocent victims. We clinked our glasses together, both lost in our own thoughts.
But I promised myself that I would do everything in my power to help those children. They had lost so much already, and I couldn't bear the thought of them suffering any more than they already had. They still had family here and would be able to be with them as soon as we found them.
As the storm raged outside, I sat there with Matt, sipping our drinks in silence. It was a bittersweet moment, but for now, it was enough to know that justice would be served.
Chapter35
THEN:
Emma and Lily clung to each other as they ran away from their home, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they propelled themselves forward. Lily's hand was sweaty in Emma's grasp, but neither of them dared to let go. They had walked for hours, their little legs carrying them as far away from their former life as possible.
As the last rays of light stretched across the sky, Emma noticed a run-down tunnel off to one side. Its entrance was covered in overgrown weeds and ivy, and it seemed untouched by human hands for years. She turned to Lily with determination in her eyes, grabbed her hand, and started walking toward it. They were surprised to find that the walls were still standing despite being coated in a thick layer of grime and cobwebs. The air was stale and damp, but it provided them with the perfect hiding place from their troubles. It was dark and foreboding, but she didn't hesitate to lead Lily into it. They crept inside, the murky darkness enveloping them and the distant sounds of the city fading away. The tunnel was damp and smelled like mildew, but it gave the girls a place to hide from the world.
Lily clutched Emma’s hand tightly as they stepped cautiously into the unknown. Their eyes adjusting to the dim light, they noticed a tiny pool of murky water in one corner and, without hesitation, fell to their knees, thirstily lapping it up. All around them, walls dripped with moisture, and a distant rumbling was heard echoing down the passageway. Trembling, they hugged each other close as they huddled together in the dark.
Lily clung to Emma, their small bodies shaking with fear as they crouched in the dark, humid tunnel.
"What's gonna happen to us?" Lily asked, her small voice shivering.
"I don't know," Emma said. "But at least we're safe. Don't talk. She might be looking for us and will hear us if she comes close."
As they sat in the darkness, listening to the sound of their own breathing, they both were wondering what would happen to them. Would they be found and forced to go back home? Would they be taken away by strangers who would hurt them even more?
"I'm scared,” Lily finally said, ignoring her sister's comment to keep quiet. She simply couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Me too," her sister replied. She pulled Lily closer and held her in her arms.
"She might find us,” Lily said.
"We will run again,” Emma said. "We will keep running if we have to."
Lily went quiet and nodded her head. After a long silence, she said:
"But what about mom?"
