Page 24 of Single All the Way

“We searched the house up and down, and I just checked the garage, the barn, and the chicken house. Her coat is gone, so I’m pretty sure she’s outside somewhere.”

“Oh, my God. Should I call nine one one?” My terror made it impossible to think straight.

Willow grasped my hand as I spun around trying to figure out what I needed to do to get out of here and go find my daughter.

“Not yet. Let’s look around the house, on the property. Berty knows she was still in the house twenty minutes ago, so she can’t be far.”

“What if someone took her, Ben?” I clung to Willow as I swayed.

“Berty’s ninety percent sure the doors were locked. I think she ran off.” His breaths were getting heavier, telling me he was actively searching as we spoke. “Come home. Have somebody drive you if you need to. We’re going to find her, Em.”

“On my way.” I ended the call.

I wasn’t sure whether I was breathing or how I was functioning. My mind had shut down on everything except my baby girl.

“Skyler?” Willow asked, apparently having heard Ben through the phone.

“She’s missing.” My throat closed up as I said it. “I have to go.”

“Let one of us drive you.”

Nobody would get me there fast enough. “I can drive. I’m going now.” I halted. “Kona.”

“We’ll tell her what’s going on, and one of us will take care of her if she’ll let us. You go…if you’re sure you’re okay to drive.”

I nodded, and she shoved my coat and purse into my hands.

“Where are your keys?” she asked.

“In here.” I opened my purse and dug till I found them, my mouth desert dry with fear.

Willow ushered me to the door. “Be careful. Call as soon as you know something. Call if you need help. Whatever you need, Emerson…”

I nodded, barely hearing her as I ran to my car, got in, and started it.

My heart was racing hard enough I might stroke out, but until I did, I had to do whatever I could to find my baby girl.

Minutes later, I squealed into Ben’s driveway, scanning for Skyler as I forced myself to slow down in case she popped out in front of my car. I was out of the driver’s seat the second I braked.

“Skyler!” I yelled, leaving my coat and purse on the passenger seat. “Skyler!”

My phone, which I’d apparently thought to shove back in my pocket, rang. It was Ben.

“Did you find her?” I said.

“Not yet, but I found footprints her size in the mud heading into the woods.” He described where he’d seen them and where he’d gone into the trees. Running in that direction, I scanned the area for Ben but didn’t see him.

“I’m coming,” I said.

“You loop out to the main road and go right. Walk along the shoulder and scan the trees from there. I’m following the paths. I don’t think she’d veer too far from the trail. It’s pretty thick in here.”

My heart was pounding so hard I couldn’t get a breath in, but I diverted myself and jogged toward the road as best I could in the worst possible shoes. I couldn’t take the time to change into something better than booties with heels.

“Skyler!” I called, then realized I’d yelled into the phone that was still connected to Ben’s ear. “Where are the others?” I asked him.

“Berty’s staying at the house in case she comes back. I sent the other three to walk along the east fence. Told them to hold hands and not split up no matter what. Evelyn knows what to do, and I trust her to keep the other two close.” His breath was coming fast, telling me he was covering ground. “Call me if you see anything,” he said, then disconnected.

I kept my phone out and my eyes on the dim woods as I skirted the outside of them, calling Skyler every few seconds, trying to shut down the awful thoughts racing through my head. Failing.

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