Page 24 of The Girl He Claimed

"You're sure it wasn't Haley Thornton's?"Christopher said. "You're certain?"

Paige nodded. "I've never seenher wear one like it."

But, she recalled, with a suddenburst of excitement, there was someone she'd met who wore one almostexactlylikethat, and recently.

Emily Chang.

CHAPTER TWELVE

"Remember that we're going toquestion her," Christopher said, for what Paige suspected was the dozenthtime. "We need to be careful. We can't just charge in."

Paige nodded. "I know,Christopher. I can handle it."

The problem was that even thoughshe knew it, she could barely contain her anger as she and Christopher headedover to the St Just Institute.

The hairpin said that Emily Changwas the Exsanguination Killer. She was the one who had killed the Thorntons,who had killed Paige's father.

"Paige," Christophersaid. Paige could hear the worry there in his voice, the hint of warning.

Paige couldn't help snapping back.Didn't he understand the pain she was in right then?

"She killed-"

"If she did this, then shealso killed my wife!" Christopher shot back, cutting her off.

It was the perfect reminder thatChristopher was just about the only person who could understand what Paige hadbeen through. He had just as much of a stake in this as she did.

"I'm sorry," Paige said,gripping his arm. "I know. Let's just... let's just get this done."

They made their way into theInstitute, not bothering to check in with the receptionist. They knew wherethey were going. They knew who they were there to see.

Paige held the butterfly hair clipin her hand. She and Christopher had picked it up on the way. She wanted to beable to put it down in front of Emily Chang, watching the doctor's face whileshe did so, seeing her reaction when she knew that Paige and Christopher hadfinally caught up to her.

Paige tried to remind herself thatthey only had one piece of evidence to connect the psychologist to the crimescene, but the problem was that one piece was damning. The hair clip wasundoubtedly hers, and how else could it have gotten to the crime scene if she hadn'tdropped it there in the process of helping Adam Riker to get Haley Thorntoninto position to kill her?

She and Christopher found EmilyChang's office there in the institute. Paige forced herself not to break thedoor open. Instead, she knocked as carefully as she could, trying not to giveaway any of what she felt right then.

There was no answer. Paige triedthe door and found that it was open. There was no sign of Dr. Chang inside theoffice, though. She wasn't just ignoring them.

Paige and Christopher exchangedworried glances. "Where could she have gone?" Paige asked.

"If she heard that we werelooking for her, there's a chance she's running," Christopher said."We need to find her."

They left the office and begansearching the hallways of the Institute. Paige couldn't help but feel a senseof unease settling over her.

She stopped an orderly as shepassed. "Have you seen Dr. Chang?"

The orderly shook his head.

"I don't think she's in today.I think she called in sick."

That stopped Paige short. It wasworrying that the doctor wasn't where she was meant to be. Did it mean thatshe'd realized that she'd left evidence behind at the last crime scene? Had shedecided to run rather than risk being caught for her crimes? Was she alreadyfleeing?

If so, there wasn't any time tolose.

Paige turned to Christopher."We need a home address for Emily Chang, and we need to put out an APB forher."

Christopher nodded. "You dealwith that side of things and I'll drive."

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