Chapter 10 - THE ROAD NORTH
The blood in Travis’s truck belonged to Erin.
A small amount.
Enough to prove she had been inside.
Not enough to explain where she was now.
Dana drove north before sunrise.
Leah stayed with the children.
Caleb’s oxygen levels were normal. His fever was dropping. Dr. Reed expected a full recovery.
Mia still didn’t sleep.
She watched the door.
At 4:30 a.m., Leah finally asked, “What are you waiting for?”
“My mom.”
“She may not be able to come yet.”
“She always comes back.”
Leah sat beside her.
Mia rubbed the rabbit’s torn ear.
“Except when Uncle Travis says she won’t.”
“What does he say?”
“That people leave when you cost too much.”
Leah felt anger rise so fast she had to look away.
“Mia, adults leave for adult reasons. Not because a child is too expensive.”
Mia considered that.
“What about Daddy?”
“Your dad died. That is very different from choosing to leave.”
“He didn’t want to?”
“No.”
The child’s eyes filled.
No one had ever said it that plainly.
At 5:12, Dana called.
They had found tire tracks leading away from Travis’s abandoned truck.
Another vehicle had picked someone up.
A nearby gas station camera showed a white cargo van passing the road at 7:46 the previous evening.
The registered owner was Bennett Auto & Repair.
The business had closed two years ago after Erin’s father died.
Carol Bennett still owned the building.
Leah looked through the glass at Carol, who was seated under guard in a consultation room.
“Does Carol know you found the van?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Dana hesitated.
“There’s more.”
“What?”
“Travis made a call from a prepaid phone at 8:03 last night.”
“To who?”
May you like
Dana’s voice turned cold.
“His mother.”
