Agent Kinblad puts her hands on Dad’s back as she leads him to the front door. “Daniel Linsley, alias Jason Smith, you are under arrest for the kidnapping …”

I put my hands over my head. I can’t watch. I can’t hear these horrible accusations against my dad.

But I also heard what Dad said. That it’s true.

It can’t be. It just can’t be.

Agent Kinblad can have her charges, Sheriff Gleason can say what he wants, but I know the truth. I know what my life has been up to now. It’s been good. Because of Dad.

How could he be punished for that?

How can they think arresting my dad is the right thing?

I watch in horror as my father, my only family, is pulled out of our home in handcuffs.

This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. You’re going to wake up soon. This will all be over soon. Just wake up.

If I don’t, my life will never be the same again.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter

ELEVEN

I wait in Sheriff Gleason’s office. It’s been nearly two hours, and I can no longer tell myself that it’s only a nightmare.

It’s my new reality. I still have no idea what that is or what’s really happening. I’m absolutely terrified.

“Hey, Ally.” Officer Basini pops her head in. “Sheriff will be here in a couple minutes. They’re just finishing up.” She gives me a tight smile since “finishing up” means that they’re almost done questioning my dad. “Do you need anything else? Chips? Another soda?”

“No thanks.” I haven’t touched the soda and sandwich they gave me when I first arrived.

“Sure I can’t get you something to read? Or turn on the TV?”

I shake my head. It’s impossible to concentrate on anything.

It’s almost ten o’clock at night. There’s a part of me that wants this day over as soon as possible. There’s another part that dreads what tomorrow may bring.

Photos of Sheriff Gleason’s family fill every space on his desk and nearby bookshelf. I try to find some solace and normality in Jan’s and Julia’s smiling faces, but I can’t help feeling a twinge of spite that they’re in their home untouched. They’ll wake up tomorrow with their family. The only worry they have is whether or not they’ll get into their top college choices.

All I want at this moment is to talk to Dad. At first, it was so he could comfort me. That’s always been his job. Now what I want, more than anything, are answers. Kidnapping. Why would he do this? Why would he lie?

Why? Why? Why?