the last of the cobwebs from her mind. She dragged Dwayne's unconscious

ing in the cool night air. "Kaitlynn, please. Yo

the rusted Ford pickup parked in the

-wh

nn didn't look at her.

hrough her. She scurried down the steps, grabbing Dwayne under the arms. Toge

ngers brushed against something small and plastic in his shirt pocket. She pulled it out. A small

the baggie back into Dwayne's shirt

ordered, pointing

! Kaitlynn, you can't le

s ago." Kaitlynn stepped closer, her voice dropping. "G

softly. Kaitlynn slammed the tailgate shut, latc

unconscious on the floor, his breathing steady

should be, his bones prominent under his skin. She held him

" she said softl

nd into Kaitlynn's. Her g

walked toward the edge of the property, where the old oak tree marked the boundary with the

g Paige close. She pulled Dwayne's phone from

ialed

e, what's yo

report somethin'. I was drivin' past the Richmond farm on Route 9, and I saw that Dwayne Sutkowski's truck parked out front.

you identi

, removed the battery and the SIM card, and tossed

g Paige's hand. "We have to walk

wiping her nos

he woods, away from the main road. It was slower,

ght. Red and blue lights flashed through the trees, heading in the di

sheriff's cruiser flew past. She waited until it

houlders slump. She let her face crumple. She forced her

y risers were already out, heading to the diner or the feed store. They sto

rtha, the postmistress, ru

lled eyes. "He hurt my baby," she whisper

eeding their gossip, cementing her role as the victim. By the time the sun came up

as locked, the lights off. Dr. Bre

ack her foot and kicked the door with all her strength

ice raw with feigned terror. "