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Her lower lip trembled. She was going to cry again at any moment.
The governor flinched and stared at Cashlyn’s sweet face for the longest time. Like he couldn’t believe what he saw there at all.
Heather shifted in front of her niece. Protectively.
The chief looked at Heather. Studiedherfor a long, long time, too. She met his look with a challenging one of her own.
Then he looked at Summer, and Eden, and the rest of her family. Even the kids. The kids who all looked so much alike, in so many ways. All of them watching now, even sweet little Nalla and Milan and Heather’s own Francisca. Those kids didn’t understand at all. They just knew…something had happened to Grandma.
Iagan stepped closer, almost snuggling in between his mom and Aunt Summer. He and Crispin were really close. And Bonnie was his grandmother in every way that mattered. He was scared.
The governor stared at Iagan for a moment, too.
Heather’s baby fussed again. Heather cuddled her closer and tried to get her to go back to sleep. The governor watched her movements. His face softened when Ember fussed and settled, one small hand waving between them. He pulled out his own phone. “Thisis my youngest sister-in-law who is missing now. She’s almost nineteen. She was also taken from FCU. I think…there is something we all need to talk about, don’t you?”
Heather looked down.
And stared. “Just what exactly is going on here?”
Joy poked between them. Looked at the phone herself. Her big dark-brown eyes widened. “Just what exactly did Denita do?”
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It didn't feel right.Leaving that girl behind. Crispin just knew it didn't. Her mother hadn't raised her to abandon someone in need. Especially when that someone was trying to help her.
Crispin turned back around near the end of the driveway.
There was a way out—for all of them. She was going to find it. But if there was another girl being held hostage in there, she wasn't going to just leave her behind for that stupid pig to hurt either.
If that girl had been right…and it was her ownsister…
No. Even if they’d never met…Crispin wasn’t leaving her own sister behind with that crazy old man. She just wasn’t. If Crispin got away but those other girls didn't, she'd never forgive herself.
Colesonshelped those in trouble because it was the right thing to do.
No matter what.
She took in a deep breath, hoping the air would help clear the last vestiges of whatever sedative he had given her. She’d almost fallen on the climb down from the roof a few times.
Crispin had a choice to make—keep walking. Or go back to help that girl who hadn't had to help her tonight.
No matter what the potential consequences were.
She closed her eyes and said a small prayer, the kind her mother had taught her and her sisters to say when they had been small girls and afraid of whatever nightmares had come.
And made her decision.
Maybe she wouldn't survive. That was a real possibility. For one thing, the building was onfirenow. And then men inside had had guns. Going back in could be incredibly stupid.
But she couldn't leave that girl behind.
And if those guys were in there—if that man with the red hair found her…
Crispin bit back the panic.
Crispin and the other girls wouldn't have much time. She’d have to work fast. She had to find a way back in.
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