His mouth was moving, so she knew he was still speaking, but renewed fear drowned out whatever he was saying. Then finally, with his voice blending in with the whistling wind, something he said got through. ‘I’m going to get you somewhere safe – something I should’ve done earlier and would have, if I’d been thinking clearly – before I head back out to search for your friend.’ One by one and using a gentler touch than the situation probably warranted, he removed her fingernails from his skin and scurried over to the truck.

Addis stood with her feet cemented to the ground. Could – should – she really trust this guy? He had a badge. He was a cop. And she had to trust someone. The sound of a rifle being cocked broke the cricketing silence of the night, and she slapped her hand over her mouth to muffle her cry.

An eternity later, Tony was back and urging her forward. At the truck, he quietly opened the driver’s side door and helped her inside which was a good thing since she was too weak to do it on her own. On the bench seat was a scratchy blanket that smelled old and mildewy, but it was warm and dry, and Addis found herself huddling beneath it as Tony ordered her to hunker down on the floorboard and to keep her head down.

She didn’t ask why; she just obeyed. With her cheek pressed against the vinyl seat, she watched as Tony reached behind it and pulled out a thermos and an insulated bag. The Velcro ripping open was unexpected and oh so loud. But then he shoved a bottle into her hand along with a sandwich stuffed into a plastic baggy, and every single thought except drinking and eating – and Emerson – dissipated into the cold air.

‘Drink slowly; you don’t want to get sick, so small sips, small bites. It’s not much, but you’ll need your strength if we’re going to locate your friend.’

In the cab of the truck, his voice was different, and Addis realized it was because he was finally speaking in a normal cadence, not a whisper or an urgent plea.

After swallowing a bite of the peanut butter and apricot jelly sandwich and washing it down her parched throat with three slow but satisfying sips, she asked. ‘How are we going to find Em? Do you have a phone? Can’t we just call that cop you told me about?’