A bitter laugh escapes my throat. “Are you kidding? The entire town has to be in a gossip frenzy by now. My dad was dragged out of our house in handcuffs by an FBI agent.” Even though I say it, I still can’t believe it.

“I’m talking about the media.”

“The media? Why would they care?”

“Listen, we are going to protect you the best we can. The charges will only have your birth name, Amanda Linsley, so hopefully that will help with your privacy. I’ve made it clear that nobody in this station is going to talk. My family will do whatever we can to make sure you aren’t hounded. And it’s probably best if you don’t go to school for a couple days.”

So I can’t see my dad. I can’t go home. Now I can’t even go to school.

It’s probably best to remain numb to it all.

“Sheriff Gleason, how much trouble is my father in?”

He hesitates for a minute before answering. “A lot.”

I’ve got to fix this. I don’t care what they think Dad did or even if he confessed. This is about me. I should get some say.

“But what if I don’t want to press charges? That’s how this works, right? He took me, but I don’t care. He’s my father.” A thought suddenly comes to me. “He is my father, right?”

“Of course.”

I exhale loudly, grateful for one thing in my life to remain the same.

“Can’t you do something?” I beg. “You know my dad. You’ve seen how he’s raised me. Doesn’t that count for something?”

Sheriff Gleason clenches his jaw. “I wish I could, but the law is the law.” He leans back in his chair. “Ally, I know this is a lot to process, but I don’t think you fully understand what this means.”

My mood shifts once again from confused and tired back to angry. “Of course I know what this means. My father is being taken away from me. I have no idea when I can see him again. Oh, and to top it all off, I have no clue who I am.”

“That’s not what—” Sheriff Gleason stops himself and takes a deep breath. He shifts in his seat. “There are more people affected by this.” He pauses, realizing the weight of what he’s about to say. “Your mother is alive.”

Chapter Twelve

Chapter

TWELVE

How much can one person take? One heart? One mind?

This can’t be happening …

“Ally?” I hear Sheriff Gleason’s voice, but it’s as if he’s underwater. I suddenly yearn for the safety of being submerged. Where my hearing and vision are muted. Where I can duck down and be comforted by water hugging my body. “Ally? Did you hear what I said?”

“I don’t have a mother.”