“Alan Mize! It’s the RRD! Please open the door. We have some questions.”

Lynell looks back at Daniel who frowns and mouths, “The Registration Regulation Department?” She nods.

Eric must have sent them.

They knock again, and Lynell takes another step, leaning forward so she can hear better. Daniel follows her, keeping a tight grip on her wrist.

“Mr. Mize, this won’t take long,” the man calls. “We just have some questions about your stepdaughter, Lynell Mize.”

Lynell quietly steps through the living room. Daniel tugs her away from the front door. “Is there another way out?” he whispers.

She nods and leads him into the room across from hers.

The knocks are louder this time, followed by, “Mr. Mize, we have a warrant to search the property if you do not cooperate.”

They rush through Alan’s bedroom. The bed has a single ruffled sheet hanging off the edge of the bed. There are two pillows and the bedside table holds empty pill bottles, a bra, and lipstick. They cross the room, and Lynell carefully pushes aside a curtain to reveal two glass doors. She peers through into the fenced-in backyard just as the men at the front door announce they’re coming in if Alan won’t answer the door.

“Hurry,” Daniel whispers.

Lynell pauses. “What if it’s a trap?”

“We can’t stay here.”

“We could—” She’s cut off by the sound of the front door crashing and boots entering the house. Without another thought, she opens the door and they run outside.

“Clear!” a man yells from inside the house.

Lynell glances back and stumbles when Daniel tugs on her. She spins forward and jumps over a dead plant, wincing at the pain blossoming from her bare feet. The air is warm, causing her skin to heat up under the afternoon sun. Daniel breathes hard, glancing around the small backyard. They reach the fence quickly and Daniel yanks at the gate’s old lock before pushing it open. Lynell looks behind them again but doesn’t see any men pouring out the back door, so she follows Daniel and closes the gate behind them.

“Where now?” he asks, turning into the back alley between the rows of houses. Lynell takes a breath and nods to the left.

“That way will take us further into the neighborhood. Right will spit us out into the front yard and the main road.”

“Found something!” a man yells from behind them.

Not wanting to stick around to discover what “something” is, whether it’s her pills or Daniel’s shoes or their empty plates still sitting on the floor by her bed, Lynell starts running on the balls of her feet. Years of sneaking out of the house at night trained her to run quietly and Daniel follows close behind. Lynell leads them through the neighborhood until she can no longer handle the pain. They slow to a quick walk, Daniel looking back every few minutes to be sure they aren’t being followed. Lynell holds her side, taking long breaths before she stops completely.