“Ah,” Mother Adella says. Lynell sits forward, trying to read the file upside down. Mother Adella closes it before she can, opens a drawer, pulls out a pen, and starts writing. The pen scratches against the paper, louder than an airhorn. Lynell knocks her knees together and counts her breaths.

Mother Adella finishes, rips out the paper, and folds it in half. She pulls an envelope from a drawer, tucks in the folded paper, and tapes it shut. She holds it up but before she hands it to Lynell, she says, “Come see me when this is all over and you’re out of harm’s way. Let me see you happy and safe and living a full life. You deserve it.”

Lynell nods.

Mother Adella hands her the envelope. “Open that somewhere safe,” she says, gesturing to the envelope in Lynell’s hands.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mother Adella stands, and Lynell and Daniel follow suit. “Thank you,” Daniel says. “For everything. Not just today but for all that you’ve done for Lynell.”

Mother Adella gives Daniel a gentle smile. “Help keep her safe.” Then she turns to Lynell and says, “Be with God, child.”

Lynell nods and heads to the door, Daniel close by her side. He opens it and heads through but Lynell turns to face Mother Adella. “You may want to call in some reinforcements. Or send the girls somewhere else. Eric Elysian is not a kind man.”

Mother Adella places her hand on Lynell’s cheek. “Thank you for the warning. I believe we’ll be fine.” She drops her hand and looks up at the cross on the wall.

Lynell follows Mother Adella’s gaze before looking back at her. “For the sake of everyone who lives here, I hope he will protect you.”

DAY 12

As soon as they get back to the car, Lynell rips open the envelope, and Daniel reads the note over her shoulder. Written in Mother Adella’s elegant script are five lines that feel like a soothing balm on Lynell’s anxious mind.

Mr. and Mrs. Raines

Last known address:

522 Byrd Street Weatherford, Oklahoma 73096

Last known phone number:

580-829-0094

Daniel immediately starts driving. They discuss going back to the apartment to pick up Zach but decide against it. And because they have the burner phone with them, and Zach lost his watch to his father, they have no way to contact him.

“Anna has to be our priority now,” Daniel says, more to convince himself than Lynell. She agrees, sitting with her feet curled under her.

They drive for two hours as Lynell watches the clock steadily push to midnight and then spill over into the next day. She feels years older from when she stood in line at the Registration Office only twelve days ago, prepared to kill but not knowing she was about to be hunted.

“We need gas,” Daniel says breaking a long silence.

“There should be a station at the next exit,” Lynell says. “We could use some water and food too.”