Andrea Kane - The Girl Who Disappeared Twice

“They did. They slept with me every night.” Krissy leaned back, gazing at her mother for corroboration. “Are we really going home?”

“We really are.” Hope looked past her daughter, taking in the entire crowd of professionals, her grateful stare lingering on Casey. “Thank you,” she managed, her voice quavering with emotion. “Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

Her gaze shifted to Felicity, who was standing there like a lost soul, pain and sorrow etched on her face.

“Krissy,” Hope said to her daughter. “Would you stand right here with Agent Hutchinson? Just for a minute. I need to talk to the woman you were with.”

Renewed fear flashed in Krissy’s eyes. “But what if she takes you, too?”

“She can’t take me. See? Her hands are chained behind her back. The police and FBI are with her. She can’t take anyone.” A painful pause as Hope inspected every inch of her child. “You’re going to be fine, baby. We all are.”

“Come on, Krissy.” Ryan stepped forward, sticking out his hand. “I’m a friend of your Mommy and of Agent Hutchinson. I spend lots of time with Hero. How about coming with Agent Hutchinson and me so that Hero can show you some of the cool tricks he knows.”

That was an excellent incentive.

Krissy let her mother lower her feet to the ground. Then, she ran over and took Ryan’s hand. She went with him over to Hutch, Marc and Hero, where she squatted down to play with the bloodhound and see what amazing feats he could do.

Certain her child was in good hands, Hope walked toward Felicity, stopping when the two sisters were face-to-face. “You are my twin,” Felicity managed, still staring at Hope as if she were part of a fairy tale. “You aren’t made-up. You’re real… Mama was wrong. The dreams I used to have are real. When I was little…when I was scared…all that really happened. Just like it happened to Krissy. I shouldn’t have taken that car. I shouldn’t have hurt anyone, taken anything or tried to be you. But Mama said I was confused. She said I had to do these things so I could have my princess. She said it was the only way I wouldn’t be lonely when she left me forever. But it was all wrong, wasn’t it? Mama made a mistake.”

“Yes, Felicity, she did.” Hope was holding herself together by a thread. “How did you know how to do all those things? How did you know how to be me?”

“Mama helped me plan it… Sometimes she’s not so sick. Sometimes she’s Mama. And she’s so smart. I’m smart, too. I take after her. She always says so. So we wrote down the plan. I had to become me. I had to take my baby. But I wasn’t me, was I? I was you.” Felicity gave a hard shake of her head. “I’m so confused.”

“How could you not be?” Hope replied. “You were kidnapped when we were six. You’ve lived in another world since then. I can’t imagine…” She broke off, her throat clogged with emotion. “We’re going to get you help. Then you’ll remember.”

Felicity began twisting and tugging at her fingers. “What about Mama? She’s sick. I can’t desert her. She never deserted me.”

“She’s getting care. That won’t change.” Hope restrained herself from screaming out that Linda Turner was not Felicity’s mother. That her real mother had died a thousand deaths since the kidnapping. And that both her parents would be weak with gratitude that their daughter had been restored to them, however damaged.

“Can I still visit her?” Felicity asked. “She needs to see me. I’m all she has. For all the time she has left.”

Hope glanced over at Peg.

“We’ll talk about that later,” Peg replied.

“Thank you.” Felicity bit her lip. “I know I’ve been bad. I didn’t mean to be. I’m usually a very good girl.”

“Felicity.” Hope put a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “It’ll be all right.”

“We have psychologists en route,” Peg informed Hope quietly. “One who specializes in victims of childhood abductions like the one Krissy’s been through. She’ll meet you at your house. And a specialist for Felicity, who’s definitely suffering from Stockholm syndrome. She’ll be waiting at the New York Field Office when we arrive.”

“I appreciate that,” Hope said. “My parents will, too.”

“Once Krissy understands that Felicity is her aunt, that she was also taken by someone when she was a child, and that she was in that scary situation for years and years, she’ll start to feel empathy rather than fear,” Casey added. “Children bounce back quickly when there’s been no physical or emotional abuse. It will be tough going for a while. But Krissy is one strong little girl. She’ll be fine. As for Felicity…” A slow inward breath. “She’s going to need a lot of help. She’s lived a lifetime like this, not a week. And, in addition to professional help, she’ll need her family, especially after Linda is gone.”

“She’ll have us.” Hope’s face was damp with tears again as she turned back to her sister. “A lot of people love you,” she said fervently. “None of that has changed.”

A vacant expression crossed Felicity’s face. “Love me?”

Hope nodded. “Yes, Felicity, love you. You’re my sister. My twin. We’re connected. You wanted to love Krissy as your own, not to harm her. I know you’re confused. But your memories will come back. I’ll remind you of the good times. I promise.” She stepped away, as Peg indicated that it was time. “Go with the FBI,” Hope instructed her. “I’ll drive down to see you later.”

“Do you promise?”

“I promise.”

Felicity nodded her acceptance, pausing for a second before relinquishing herself to the task force. “I really do love Krissy,” she whispered.

“I know you do.”

Torn between anguish and relief, Hope watched as Felicity was led off.

For a long moment, she did nothing. Just composed herself, so she could give Krissy the love and strength she needed.

Then she turned, beckoning to Krissy, who was playing a game of tug-of-war with Hero. Her T-shirt was definitely the loser.

“Let’s go, sweetheart,” Hope called. “We have to call Daddy. And it’s time we went home.”

Krissy raced over to her instantly and glued herself to her mother’s side. Hope clasped her hand securely in her own.

Then they walked slowly back to the van, and to the life they would fight to recapture.

The Forensic Instincts team sat around the brownstone’s conference table, raising their glasses of champagne in triumph.

“To a job well done,” Casey toasted. “And to an amazing team of pros-both our original threesome, and our two new additions-Claire and Hero.” She tipped her champagne flute in Claire’s direction. “Welcome. I’m so glad you decided to leave the world of the straight and narrow, and take a walk on the wild side.”

“Me, too.” Claire’s eyes twinkled. “The straight and narrow’s not all it’s cracked up to be. A walk on the wild side will be very refreshing.”

With a return grin, Casey lowered her gaze to the floor, where Hero was sprawled at her feet, taking a well-deserved, and much-needed, nap. “And you, my friend, are the man of the hour. A true hero.”

He acknowledged her praise with a snore.

“Hero’s got the right idea. Sleeping it off.” Ryan gave a huge yawn. “When was the last time any of us got a full night’s sleep?”

“Uh-oh.” Claire rolled her eyes. “You’re tired. Does that mean you’re about to turn into Mr. Hyde again?”

Ryan shot her a look. “Tread carefully, Claire-voyant. I still think Casey gives way too much credit to those visions of yours. Gecko had just as big a role in this investigation as you did-and he doesn’t talk back.”