Page 134 of Everything She Feared

Since Magda was freed, she’d vanished into the world with a new identity, as if she never existed.Except in my blood and my nightmares.All her life Sara was told, and believed, that there had never been contact between her family and Magda.

Why didn’t Mom and Dad tell me about this? What did Magda say in her letter? Where is it? I have a right to see it.

Sara was jolted when her phone rang, the screen showing a blocked number.

“Hello?”

“Sara?”

“Yes.”

“Detective Kim Pierce.”

Sara caught her breath. “Hi.”

“We’re almost finished our work and we’d like to set up a time to come to your house. We’d like to collect Katie’s fingerprints.”

Sara tensed.

“Her fingerprints?”

“Yes.”

“But why her fingerprints?”

“This is pretty much a routine follow-up.”

“I thought you were done with her?”

“We need to collect her prints so we can wrap things up. It won’t take long. Would today be good?”

Sara’s pulse raced; she tried to think of an excuse to buy some time.

“No, today’s not good. Tomorrow would be better. Later in the afternoon, say four?”

“Alright, we’ll see you and Katie tomorrow at four. Thank you, Sara.”

She ended the call with her mind racing.

Fingerprints. The detectives wanted Katie’s fingerprints.

Why? And why now? What do they know? Is this related to confiding my fears and showing Katie’s drawing to Dr. Mehta?

Still gripping her phone, she examined her options while staring at the envelopes. She focused on the letter from Levi, Huttner and Sanchez.

She needed help.

She called the firm’s number. While it rang, her worries whirled. She couldn’t afford a lawyer for Katie.

But I can’t afford not to get her one.

The receptionist answered.

“Could I speak with Constance Huttner, please?”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Huttner’s no longer with the firm. She’s retired. How may I direct your call?”

“I’d like to talk to a criminal defense attorney.”

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