He doesn’t look up. He hasn’t spoken a word since the officers came in. “DAD!” I scream, which finally lifts him out of his haze. “Tell them it isn’t true,” I beg as my voice cracks. “Tell them.”

He stands up, and Agent Kinblad puts her hand near her gun. “Settle down,” she commands him, as if he’s some criminal.

My dad couldn’t hurt a single soul. When he was laid up from an accident at work three years ago, we had to scrimp to get by. Yet Dad never stopped buying Baxter treats. Dad was the one who deprived himself. He took a smaller portion at dinner. He made sure I had plenty of food for lunch. I’d come home to a freezing house, but he would turn up the heat as soon as I walked in. He’s always cared more about other people. How could they think that he would even be capable of doing something like kidnapping?

Dad rubs his head—what was once a nervous tic has now turned into something more desperate. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry …”

He spins around to look at me, and as he meets my eyes, I find myself frightened of my father for the first time. His face softens in defeat. “I never wanted to hurt you. I love you. I did this for you, for us.”

“What did you do?” I ask, trying to make sense of what this all means.

Dad couldn’t have done anything wrong. Look at me. I’m fine. I’m more than fine. I’m healthy. I’ve got a great education and a home. What more could any child want? How is that a crime?

Dad takes a hesitant step toward me, but Agent Kinblad holds her arm out to stop him and steps between us. “I have to ask that there be no more contact between the two of you. We shouldn’t even have you in the same room until we get full statements. This is highly unorthodox.” She glares at Sheriff Gleason.

“I understand. I do.” Dad’s shoulders are slumped. “I knew it would eventually catch up to me.” Dad looks at me. “Ally, sweetheart, you have to know that I did it for you. She was going to take you away from me.”

I want to ask him, Who? But I’m unnerved that Dad would … confess. Is that what he’s doing? Is he saying that these allegations are true? They can’t be.

They simply can’t be.

“Dad,” I barely croak. My mind is spinning with so many questions. Who was going to take me away from you? Who would do that to a daughter and her father?

Agent Kinblad puts handcuffs on Dad.

“That’s really not necessary,” Sheriff Gleason says.

“I’ll go,” Dad replies. “Brian, please take care of Ally for me.”

“Of course,” Sheriff Gleason replies.