rs opened onto t

anced up, his expression a mixture of pity and professional detachment, but he didn't move to stop h

he doors and into th

e thin cotton of her gown. The chill was a shock, but

a second thought, she pulled open the back doo

ked at her in the rearview mirror. His eyes took in the hospital go

ice trembling slightly from the c

ng on the wet asphalt. The hospital shrank in the

parents. He would spin a story of a psychotic breakdown, of an unprovoked, v

make a call. An international call. It's an

irror again. He seemed to weigh her request for a long moment. Then, h

father's number. It rang once, twice, a third time

obert Sharp. Relaxed, happy. T

e, hot tear traced a path through th

.." The relaxation in his voice vanished

adrenaline pour into her voice. "Grandma and Dale. They locked me in

end, then her mother's voice, Helen, in the ba

ling out. "They said it was a simple procedure, but

he driver's seat. It was her father, his voice a force of nature. "

instructions. "You can't come back on your scheduled flight. They know your itinerary. They might try somet

truer fear-that something terrible might happen

with fury and resolve. "We're on our way. Don't you worr

, to call the airline. He was cursing his mother and his brother. The gentle, peace-a

lena, so powerful it left her dizzy. She

ds like you did what you had to do," he said, his

sue, wiping her f

began to vibrate. She pulled it out. The screen lit up with Grandma Tucke

ed street in a neighborhood she hadn't seen in years. It was

to a dark house at the end

her, an asset the Tuckers didn't know ab

er phone case, adding a generous tip. He handed her his car

in, and watched the taxi's taillights disappear. Her phone buzzed a

most l

rom her father. All family numbe

was breathtaking. T

agstone, just where she'd left it a lifeti

he bolted the door behind her, the sound of the de

lone. She

had wo