Kate vividly remembered sitting, then standing, then pacing in her parents’ kitchen fifteen years ago as her mother recounted her time at the University of Illinois, the work she had done into missing people, and why, on that very night, she had gone to meet secretly with the professor who was suspected in William’s disappearance. Kate had gotten so angry realizing what her mother had done that Roxy had chastised her harsh reaction, and she and Stella had bitterly argued outside. When her mother had driven off into the night, Kate felt the first pang of doubt that she didn’t truly know her at all.

Fifteen years later, it was she who had to explain. Yet this time, they were trapped in some room, in yet another warehouse that hid government offices inside.

Her mother’s eyes were so filled with sadness that Kate had to avoid looking at her. Stella was furious, and Roxy wore an expression that was a blend of empathy and disapproval.

When Kate had finished explaining everything she knew, there was a familiar silence, the same, heavy, uncomfortable quiet that followed when Lynn had told her own story all those years ago.

“Regret isn’t even the word,” Kate said, feeling like she’d repeated it so many times now that it had lost its meaning.

“Dammit, Kate,” Stella said, standing and walking to the locked door, shaking the handle. “Isn’t it a little too late for that?”

“Stella,” Lynn said wearily.

“She’s right, Mom,” Kate said. “I delivered you right to them. I did the same with William. I thought I was doing the right thing. For the country, for my family—”

“That’s crap,” Stella snapped.

“Stella, enough,” Lynn said.

“Listen to your mother, girls,” Roxy said. “We can’t exactly call in a family counselor right now. Let me tell you something: When everyone thought William was dead and everything really went to hell, your mother didn’t drown in the mess this family can be. She got on a plane and flew to the middle of literally nowhere and faced something horrific. Don’t you dishonor her by squabbling right now.”

Stella took a deep breath. “All I can think about is Anne. She’s surely seen Mom at that protest, and that a storm hit the building. She has no idea that her son was beneath that building too. And that her father—”

She covered her mouth. “Mom, I’m sorry—”

“Tom was her father,” Lynn said. “In almost every sense of the word. Steven just helped bring her into the world, that’s it.”

Her voice broke a bit when saying his name. She looked to Kate. “Why was Steven there, Kate? How did he end up with William?”