Andrea Kane - The Girl Who Disappeared Twice

She’d run up the stairs so many times. But the door had always been locked.

Now it wasn’t. It was wide open.

She raced toward the staircase as fast as she could.

“Wait!” the woman yelled. She was running now, too, coming up quickly behind Krissy.

But Krissy had youth and speed on her side. She blasted up the stairs, nearly tripping over a suitcase. She looked wildly around, finally spotting the kitchen-and the door that she saw led outside. She was through it in seconds.

Fresh air. Woods. Trees everywhere. No open spaces.

It didn’t matter. Krissy didn’t pause. Even if she ran smack into a bear, it would be better than this. She had to get away.

She tore off into the woods, winding her way through the clusters of trees, and vanishing from view.

The New Hamburg train station was different than the others.

There was no set of stairs or overpass connecting the two platforms, or connecting the platforms to the parking lot. Instead, there was a tunnel that all passengers had to walk through to get from place to place. That made it more difficult to locate all those who had to be interviewed.

The task force was already on it. Given the added complexity, they welcomed Ryan and Patrick’s help.

As before, Marc led Hero through the parking lot, into the tunnel and on to the opening of the train station platform. He harnessed the bloodhound and let him sniff Felicity’s scent pad. He kept Hero’s lead taut, but let him explore at will.

They were barely inside the tunnel, when Hero started pulling Marc, sniffing the ground, straining in his harness to keep moving forward.

Marc tightened his grip on the leash, letting Hero sniff the length of the tunnel. The bloodhound moved swiftly, giving sharp, repeated barks.

It was all the confirmation Marc needed.

“Good boy,” he praised. “Let’s go.”

He sprinted Hero back through the tunnel and across the parking lot to the van. “Success!” he called out to Casey, giving her a thumbs-up. He gestured to Ryan and to Patrick, as well as to the task force. “Felicity got off the train at this station. There’s not a doubt in my mind-or in Hero’s.”

“That’s it.” Hope practically jumped off the seat. “We have to find her. I have to go.”

“Not yet.” Casey was already calling Hutch on speed dial. “Racing off without a strategy will only increase the time it takes to find Felicity and Krissy. We need to get organized. Then we’ll act.”

“Casey?” Hutch answered.

“It’s New Hamburg. Hero picked up her scent in the tunnel and on the platform. Marc is sure. And if he’s sure, then I’m sure.”

“We’re on our way.”

Felicity’s heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst out of her chest. Her legs ached. Her throat was sore from shouting Krissy’s name.

Tears filled her eyes, trickled down her cheeks. Oh, Krissy…Krissy, my baby, where are you?

She stopped running long enough to push her hair off her face and peer around. Her face was scratched and bleeding from the branches she’d shoved out of her way. How long a stretch of woods had she covered? It all looked the same. Dirt. Rocks. Trees.

But no Krissy.

Oh, Krissy, why did you run away? I told you I’d keep you safe. I told you we’d find a new home, that I’d build you a new princess suite. What were you so afraid of that made you run?

I did everything right. I know I did everything right. Mama said I did everything right.

But it’s my fault. Mama kept the world away. She kept me safe.

I couldn’t do that for you, Krissy. The world wouldn’t leave us alone. Those horrible FBI people won’t go away. They gave up when it came to me. Why won’t they give up when it comes to you? Why won’t they understand that you’re happy? That we’re both happy? That you’re where you belong?

You saw me be afraid. That’s why you ran. It scared you. Mothers are supposed to hide their fear. To control themselves. To be in charge. To be strong.

I didn’t do that. I was weak.

It won’t happen again.

Please, Krissy, let me help you. I’ll make it better. I’ll take you away. Mama will understand. She knows what you need. You need me. Only me.

But I can’t find you. I have to find you.

Mama’s leaving me. You’re all I have. You’re my whole world now.

And I let you down.

Gasping for breath, seized by panic, Felicity resumed tearing through the woods, zigzagging from tree to tree and shouting Krissy’s name.

Nothing answered back but the wind.

The hamlet of New Hamburg was small.

Still, the surge of law enforcement officials spread out fast, intent on covering every square inch as rapidly as possible. They were fully aware that only a short time had passed since Felicity had arrived.

But a lot could happen in that brief interval.

Patrick joined the search party, going from house to house and street to street. Ryan joined them, but he was also glued to Hope Willis’s side as her appointed bodyguard and warden to make sure that she didn’t take off on her own and do something stupid.

Hope fought her confinement tooth and nail. But, in the end, she had no choice. She couldn’t outsmart Ryan, and she certainly couldn’t overpower him. And, if it was a choice between waiting in the van or not being nearby when they did find Krissy, there was no decision to make.

Casey teamed up with Marc, took Hero and began their search. Marc had the professional rescue skills, and Casey had the trailing experience with bloodhounds. As a human scent evidence dog, Hero was the most qualified of all. The three of them made a formidable team. And they were hell-bent on finding Krissy.

“Linda kept Felicity in a quiet house in the country,” Casey said as she and Marc let Hero guide them. “Felicity would want to replicate that environment as closely as possible.”

“That describes most of this hamlet,” Marc returned.

“True. But Ryan checked the map. There’s a section of houses in wooded areas, with little visibility to neighbors. That’s where I’d start.”

“I’m sure that’s where Ryan is starting, too.”

“But he’s limited by his duties as a bodyguard. We’ll probably beat him there. If not, we’ll all split up by street.”

Hero was already pacing along, sniffing intently as he did.

“How much geographic territory can Hero’s nose cover?” Marc asked.

“From what Hutch has told me and from what I’ve read, it’s pretty awesome. He can search fifteen linear miles, maybe more, and narrow it down to half a block.”

Marc whistled. “That’s amazing.”

“It certainly is.” A half smile. “Then again, he is a member of Forensic Instincts.”

“True,” Marc said drily. “We are an extraordinary bunch.”

Once they reached the wooded area Casey had described, the terrain became difficult-rocks and dirt covering the ground, the sharp branches of trees impeding their progress and scratching their faces.

Casey’s cell phone rang.

“We found the house,” Ryan told her. “But there’s no one here. The basement is set up just the way Claire described. And the back door is open. They definitely took off in a hurry.”

“Where are you?” Casey demanded, checking the map Ryan had printed for her.

“Thirty-nine Pine Street. But there’s no point in coming here. The task force called ERT. They’ll examine the crime scene. We’ve got to get out there and find Krissy.”