I kept picturing her tiny foot missing a step. I kept seeing her fingers slipping off those rails and her little body tipping back and then she'd land on her head wrong and her neck would be at a bad angle... Her voice faded away . So I stayed behind her. And I was ready for anything . Claire stopped and stared at him . I 'd never hurt her, Myron said . I know, she said softly . He should have felt relief at that. He didn't. There was something in her tone, something that kept him on the hook . You wouldn't harm her, I know that. Her eyes flared up. But you're not blameless either . He had no idea what to say to that . Why aren't you married? she asked . What the hell does that have to do with anything?You're one of the nicest, sweetest men I know. You love kids. You're straight. So why aren't you married yet?Myron held back. Claire was in shock, he told himself. Her daughter was missing. She was just lashing out . I think it's because you bring destruction, Myron. Wherever you go, people get hurt. I think that's why you've never been married . You think what? that I'm cursed?No, nothing like that. But my little girl is gone. Her voice was slow now, one weighted word at a time. You were the last to see her. You promised that you would protect her . He just stood there . You could have told me, she said . I promised Don't, she said, holding up her hand. That's no excuse. Aimee wouldn't have ever known. You could have pulled me aside and said, 'Look, I told Aimee that she could call me if she had a problem.' I'd have understood that. I'd have even liked it, because then I would have still been there for her, like with the ladder. I would have been able to protect her because that's what a parent does. A parent, Myron, not afamily friend . He wanted to defend himself, but the arguments wouldn't come . But you didn't do that, she went on, her words raining down on him. Instead you promised that you wouldn't tell her parents. Then you drove her somewhere and dropped her off, but you didn't watch out for her like I would have. Do you understand that? You didn't take care of my baby. And now she's gone . He said nothing . What are you going to do about that? she asked . What?I asked you what you're going to do about it . He opened his mouth, closed it, tried again. I don't know . Yeah, you do. Suddenly Claire's eyes seemed focused and clear. The police are going to do one of two things. I can see it already. They're backing away. Aimee took money out of an ATM machine before she called you. So they're either going to dismiss her as a runaway or they're going to think you were involved.