With the man secured, Baxter went back to the Malibu. He searched the front seats. There were fast food bags and wrappers everywhere. He looked through the backseat, but only found little girls’ clothing and empty grocery bags.

Baxter went back to the front and pulled the trunk release. His adrenaline spiked as he reached the back and open the trunk. There lay a little girl, her hands bound by zip ties and her mouth gagged. She was unconscious. Baxter keyed his radio requesting medical support as he picked up the little girl out of the trunk. Her blond hair was dirty and her clothes torn. Her breathing was shallow.

Baxter carried her toward his cruiser as the first Sheriff’s Deputy cruiser arrived on scene. The deputy got out of his cruiser and went straight for his trunk, pulling out a blanket for the little girl and opening the back door for Baxter to lay her down. The girl came to as Baxter searched her for any wounds or bleeding.

“Where... Where am I?” she croaked. She couldn’t be older than 6 or 7, Baxter guessed.

“My name is Sean, and I’m a police officer, you’re safe, now,” Baxter said reassuringly. “What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Kayla,” the girl said timidly.

“Well, Kayla, it’s nice to meet you, everything is going to be ok,” Baxter said as he held the little girl’s hands. She had dirt under her fingernails and all over her hands.

“Where’s Abigail? Where is she?!” the girl suddenly screamed.

“You’re ok. You’re safe now. Who is Abigail?” Baxter asked, trying to calm the girl.

“She’s my sister,” the girl replied, wiping a tear from her eyes.

“Was she with you? Can you tell me what happened?” Baxter responded. He was squatting down next to the girl as he tried to calm her down.

“That man took her,” she said flatly, as she gazed off into the distance.

Baxter turned as a deputy tapped him on the shoulder. They stepped away to the rear of the cruiser.

“That’s one of the Harris girls,” he said. “Went missing yesterday. Twins. Parents said they were out playing in the woods and didn’t come home.”

An ambulance arrived as Baxter walked back to talk to the little girl.

“Kayla, can you tell me where you were?” Baxter asked. He was trying to piece together the puzzle. The man had mentioned only being able to take one of the girls and little Kayla was panicked about her sister. He hoped he could get some information to find the missing twin.

“I don’t know,” she began, “it was so dark. I kicked until there was light, but it didn’t stop.”

Baxter thought back to the taillight. The little girl must have kicked it out while they were driving.

“Did you hear anything? Anything at all?” Baxter prodded.

“Moo!” the girl said, looking up at Baxter.

“Moo?”

“I heard moo cows,” the girl replied.

“Did you hear anything else?”

“Where’s Abby? I want my mommy,” the girl said as she started to cry.