The Missing Page 0,63

so investigators had copies for their files.

Darby was in the process of reviewing them when she heard coughing. She poked her head out into the hallway and saw the thin crack of light at the bottom of her mother’s bedroom door. Sheila was awake, watching TV.

When Darby eased open her mother’s door, she could see pictures of the blast site reflected in her glasses.

‘What happened to your face?’

‘I slipped and fell. It looks worse than it is,’ Darby said. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Better, now that you’re here.’ Sheila turned down the volume on the TV. ‘Thank you for leaving the note.’

Darby sat down on the bed. ‘I tried calling, but the phone lines were down. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.’

Sheila waved it off, but Darby could see where the worry still ate at her. Even in the soft light, her face looked haggard, leached of color. Any day now.

Darby laid down next to her mother and hugged her.

‘You know what I kept thinking about today? The time you got caught in an undertow and almost drowned. You were eight.’

Darby remembered the feeling of tumbling across the ocean floor, the water getting colder. When she finally resurfaced, she coughed up water for the next hour.

But it was the chill she felt while trapped underneath the water that refused to leave, even while she sat in the sun. The chill was still with her later when she was tucked in her bed underneath layers ofwarm blankets. The chill was a reminder that there were things in this world she couldn’t always see, waiting to strike out when you least expected it.

‘You didn’t cry – your father was more shook up about it than you were,’ Sheila said. ‘He took you to get an ice cream, and you said – I’ll never forget this – you said to him, “Dad, you don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself”’

Darby closed her eyes and saw the three of them packed in the car, on their way home, the car smelling of the ocean and Coppertone. The three of them together. Healthy and safe. A good memory there. She had lots of them.

‘Coop stopped by,’ Sheila said. ‘He wanted me to know you were okay.’

‘That was nice of him.’

‘He’s very nice – and funny.’

‘That’s what he keeps trying to tell me.’

‘He looks like that basketball player, what’s his name, Brady.’

‘Tom Brady. He plays football. He’s a quarterback for the Patriots.’

‘Is he single?’

‘He is.’

‘I think you two should go on a date. You’re well suited for each other.’

I’ve tried, but sadly, Tom Brady won’t return my phone calls.’

‘I was referring to Coop. He reminds me of your father, has that same quiet, confident way about him. Is he dating anyone?’

‘Coop isn’t the dating type.’

‘He said he’s looking to settle down.’

‘Probably with one of his underwear models,’ Darby said.

‘He thinks very highly of you. Told me how smart you are, how hardworking and dedicated you are to your job. He said you’re the most trustworthy person he has ever met –’

Darby was asleep.

Chapter 49

Carol had spent the first few minutes after the door shut covering her ears to block out the god-awful screaming – and not just from one woman. Several women were somewhere outside her door and they were screaming.

What scared Carol even more were the banging sounds. Bang, scream, bang-bang-bang- scream, BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG, the frightening sounds growing louder and closer.

Carol had frantically searched her room again, trying to find something to use as a weapon, something she might have missed. Everything was bolted down, even the toilet seat. There wasn’t anything she could use. The only thing in here was the blanket and pillow.

Hours had passed since that moment. Her door never opened, but that didn’t mean the man with the mask wasn’t coming back for her.

Standing alone in the dark room, Carol hadn’t wasted her time feeding her fear. She had used that time to think of a plan.

Men, she knew, were vulnerable in one key area – their balls. One time Mario Densen put his meaty hand on her ass and gave it a tight squeeze. Mario was twice her height and almost triple her weight; but, wouldn’t you know, the fat jerk crumbled like a deck of cards when her shin connected squarely with his crotch.

Carol had removed her sweats and, using the pillow, formed a ball underneath the blanket. This was her plan:

When the door opened, the man with the mask would think she