Chapter 11 - “Where Is My Baby?”
Ruiz raised one hand.
“Stay here.”
She climbed the stairs slowly.
Samuel heard a door open.
Then a woman screamed.
Not in fear.
In confusion.
“No! No men!”
Emma ran before anyone could stop her.
At the top of the stairs, Ruiz stood beside an open bedroom door.
An older woman had backed into the corner.
Her hair was gray at the temples. One side of her face carried a thin scar from eyebrow to jaw.
But Samuel knew her.
Time disappeared.
“Evie.”
The woman stared at him.
Samuel pulled the silver pendant from his shirt.
Her eyes locked on it.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
Her hand rose to her mouth.
“Sammy?”
Samuel broke.
He crossed the room and fell to his knees in front of his sister.
“I’m here.”
Evelyn touched his hair as though proving he was real.
“You got old.”
He laughed through tears. “You too.”
Emma stood in the doorway, unable to move.
Evelyn looked past Samuel.
Their eyes met.
Something changed in Evelyn’s face.
Her breath caught.
“Who are you?”
Emma tried to speak and failed.
Samuel turned.
“Evie, this is Emma.”
Evelyn’s entire body went still.
“My Emma?”
Emma nodded.
Evelyn stumbled forward.
Emma caught her.
For several seconds neither woman said anything. They simply held each other and cried with the force of years neither could recover.
Then Evelyn pulled back and cupped Emma’s face.
“You have my mother’s eyes.”
Emma laughed and sobbed at the same time.
“I thought you were dead.”
Evelyn’s expression collapsed.
“He told you that?”
Emma nodded.
Evelyn looked toward the window as if Richard might be standing outside.
“He always said he would erase me.”
Ruiz stepped closer. “Evelyn, we need to ask you about Richard.”
Evelyn suddenly gripped Emma’s wrist.
“Where is your baby?”
“Leo? He’s safe.”
“No.” Evelyn’s voice sharpened. “Listen to me.”
May you like
She pointed toward the road.
“Richard knows you found me.”
