“The police thought someone took her after she snuck out,” Robbie said. “They talked to everyone Crissy knew, and a lot of folks she didn’t. In the end, they figured it had to be a stranger who was passing through. A drifter or a transient worker. Lots of those around here in the summer months.”

“There was a search party. My dad was part of it.”

He nodded. Said, “I was there, too. I wasn’t supposed to be, but a bunch of kids from school showed up wanting to help.” When he registered my surprise, he added, “Big place, that refuge. The cops couldn’t really stop us.”

“Wait,” I said. “How did they know to search the refuge?”

“Someone spotted a girl along River Street not long after she went missing, but when the police got there, she was gone. They thought it might have been her, so they searched the woods. I wasn’t around when they found her, but I heard she was in bad shape.” Robbie puffed out a breath. “I guess she was lucky. Could have been a lot worse.”

“Meaning?”

“Well, Crissy was banged up and high as a kite, but okay in the end. It wasn’t exactly a no-harm-done situation, but close to it. Maybe that’s why the cops gave up so fast.”

“That was Felicia’s doing.” Cheryl was back, holding Erynn by the hand and carrying a platter of sliced coffee cake. She offered a slab to Robbie, who immediately took a crumbly bite. “As soon as they found her,” Cheryl said, “Felicia asked the police to drop the investigation. I had a friend who worked as a clerk at the station back then. She told me.”

When I was abducted, and my NCO supervisor informed my parents, they harassed him for updates day and night. I know this because Doug drove them six hours to the city, where all three of them loitered on the sidewalk outside of the precinct waiting for news. “Why would Felicia ask the police to stop looking for her daughter’s abductor?” I asked.

“Because she’s heartless,” said Cheryl.

“Ma,” Robbie mumbled through his full mouth.

“No, honey, I’ll say what I like. The whole town thinks it anyway. Felicia hurt those children; I know that for a fact. That boy of hers ran off before he even finished high school, and what did she do about it? Not a thing. She didn’t try to find out who took Crissy because she couldn’t be bothered to care, not about her daughter, her son, her husband, or anyone else.”

It was only after she said it that Cheryl remembered who Felicia was to me. Her color high, she opened her mouth, but then Erynn made a dash for the kitchen and both Cheryl and Robbie’s heads whipped around in alarm.

“Whoa there,” he said, scooping her into his arms. “Give Daddy a good-bye kiss. Oof.” When he set his plate down and tried to lift her, his free hand shot to his lower back. Robbie was only a few years older than me, but when our eyes met, tacit knowledge passed between us. Aging is for the birds. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I’ve only got a few minutes to get Erynn settled. On my way to work.”