It was a Sunday. I know because we had asked them to come over to watch the Redskins play. They were playing the Cowboysand the Fullers liked the Cowboys. We were surprised when they actually agreed. They had been sketchy around us, sort of distancing themselves from us. I figured it was because of the coke and her heroin. I felt like they were sort of starting to look down on us.

So they came over. And was there a fight?

No. Helen was working as a waitress. She got called in for an emergency shift. Someone got sick or something. Its been what, fifteen years…I dont remember all of it. But she had to leave and work…we couldnt turn down any shifts, you know? Needed the money. Anyway…shes gone for like maybe half an hour and then Alvin and Wendy say they need to get going. They left, you know…and I just sat there and watched the game with little Katherine. Kim was in her little crib thing. She was like maybe three months old. But then theres a knock on the door. I got up and answered it and its Alvin. Before he punched me the first time, I saw that he was crying…like messed up about something, you know?

So they left and came back? DeMarco asked.

Yeah…pretty sure thats how it happened. The first punch broke my nose. I swung back at him but missed. And then he just sort of laid into me. I remember two or three more punches and then I was out. Blacked out. It was Katherine that got me to come back around. She was in another room when Alvin came back…she was calling me and trying to get me to sit up. She said Kim was missing.

And you werent scared or upset about that? Kate asked.

Of course I was. I called Helen and then…I was going to call the police but we had drugs in the house. Helen had shot up that morning. It was too risky. And the more we talked about it, the more we thought about it…we just decided maybe Kim was better off. Maybe we were better off…

Nick did start weeping this time. It was as if the weight and tragedy of the decision to simply not report the abduction of their child fifteen years ago came crashing down on him in that moment. It came out in hitching sobs that Kate allowed him to get out before forging on.

Mr. Sanders, how did you come to have Mercys number?

I started looking for her about six months ago. Or, I guess I started trying to find the Fullers. Katherine had found me and asked where Kim was. She found it hard to believe the story…that we just let her go.

Katherine didnt stay with you long either, right? She ended up in foster care.