No. But they were there, hanging out with my parents. They were friends, I guess. I just…I remember them being there and I thought they left. I went back to my room and heard them come back. I can remember hearing some screaming later on, and then coming out. Dad was knocked out and Kim was gone.

What did you do?

Well, Mom was at work when it happened. I think she had just left for her shift. So I called the Crabtrees and they came over.

Pam nodded, sitting by Katherine and taking her hand. Katherines parents were miserable people, she explained. When her dad got in trouble with the police and her mother needed help caring for Katherine, shed call us. Same with the mom. When she was too strung out to be a functioning mother and Katherines dad couldnt handle things, hed bring her here. We brought her here that day. It was a hard decision. But I knew if we called the authorities, Katherine would end up in the foster system. And she deserved so much better than that.

Wed keep her for days at a time sometimes, Mr. Crabtree said from his recliner. We were happy to do it because we wanted what was best for her, but we also felt sort of stupid. Wed basically just keep her so her messed up parents could get their acts together. And really, it never happened.

We did our best to help, Pam said. Social Services in this part of the state is a joke. We wanted to badly to keep her out of the foster system. But I think her school caught wind of what was happening at some point…

Third grade, Katherine said. My teacher somehow found out that Mom was high out of her mind when she brought me to school one morning because I missed the bus. Someone did some digging, and that was that. I bounced around the foster system for the rest of my childhood. Five different homes.

And you never, in the course of all of that, bothered to mention that you had a sister that had been abducted? DeMarco asked.

No. Not too long after Kim went missing, my parents told me not to mention it. Never to mention it again. I think they were relieved. I hate to say it, I really do, but they didnt want her. Hell, half the time, I dont think they wanted me.

Kate could not get a proper read on whether Katherines story was true or not. It didnt help that she was clearly strung out at the present moment.

Katherine, where are your parents now?

Mom died ten years ago. She overdosed on heroin. Dad… She chuckled here and gave a shrug. I have no idea. I havent seen or spoken to him since he reached out to me after Mom died.

Whats his name?

Nick. Nick Sanders.

Are you currently using, Katherine? Kate asked.