This breaks something in Anna, and she lets out a wailing cry. “Daddy!”

Eric flinches at the sound and turns to hand her off to Zoe. “Quiet her,” he says.

Zoe takes Anna back, her relief evident. Every muscle in her body seems to relax with the return of her daughter. She starts smoothing Anna’s hair, kissing the top of her head, and making promises she can’t keep. “Everything’s going to be okay, baby.”

Lynell’s knees lock, thighs tightening and toes digging into her shoes. She forces herself to look back at Eric. “She’s not Daniel’s,” she says again, desperation filling her bones. “I’m telling the truth. Please, let them go.”

“And how do I know this isn’t a lie? A feeble attempt to get your daughter released?”

Lynell shakes her head. “It’s not.”

“You know there are ways to test your claim?”

“Go ahead.” She swallows and focuses on Zach’s grip on her arm to try and steady her voice. “You can ask Daniel if you want.”

“He’s aware?”

Lynell nods. “That’s why he wanted me to use my Registration for her.” She turns away, looking out the window. “When I found out, I couldn’t . . . I couldn’t keep it from him.”

“Who’s the girl’s father?” Eric asks.

“His name is Oliver White,” she says. “Look him up. I worked with him.”

Oliver is a former colleague. His eyes are as blue as Daniel’s. Lynell met his wife at a company Christmas party one year. She wonders briefly what Jennifer would say if she knew that Lynell is putting her husband on the radar of a psychotic murderer.

It’s funny how there seems to be a limit to the amount of guilt a person can feel. Lynell’s limit was pushed and reached and expanded years ago. Now she’s numb to the feeling.

“I will do just that. Maybe pay him a visit to validate your claim.”

“Let Anna go,” Lynell says. “Talk to Oliver all you want, I don’t care. But you promised to let Anna go if we came back.”

“I don’t remember that. Zachary?” he turns his gaze to Zach, who drops his hold from Lynell’s arm. She feels the loss like a chord tethering her to earth being snapped. “Did I make that promise?”

Zach’s voice is tight, controlled. “You said you would kill them if we didn’t.”

“Ah, yes. But I never said anything about what I would do if you obeyed.”

Lynell glances back at Zach, eyes wide as he shakes his head slowly. She knew this, of course, but she still feels reduced to her bones, vulnerable to the harsh air of the world.

“Please, just . . . let them go,” Lynell says, looking back at Eric.

Eric seems to consider that for a moment, the sound of Anna’s wails filling the pause. “Okay, I’ll release them,” he says.

Lynell sways on her feet and notices movement on the other side of the room. Another guard has entered, standing with his own gun across his chest. Zach grabs her arm. She steps closer to him as Eric turns to face them again. He glares at Lynell, his white teeth glinting as he says, “As soon as you give me the letter.”