Now it wasn’t. It was wide open.
She raced toward the staircase as fast as she could.
“Wait!” the woman yelled. She was running now, too, coming up quickly behind Krissy.
But Krissy had youth and speed on her side. She blasted up the stairs, nearly tripping over a suitcase. She looked wildly around, finally spotting the kitchen—and the door that she saw led outside. She was through it in seconds.
Fresh air. Woods. Trees everywhere. No open spaces.
It didn’t matter. Krissy didn’t pause. Even if she ran smack into a bear, it would be better than this. She had to get away.
She tore off into the woods, winding her way through the clusters of trees, and vanishing from view.
The New Hamburg train station was different than the others.
There was no set of stairs or overpass connecting the two platforms, or connecting the platforms to the parking lot. Instead, there was a tunnel that all passengers had to walk through to get from place to place. That made it more difficult to locate all those who had to be interviewed.
The task force was already on it. Given the added complexity, they welcomed Ryan and Patrick’s help.
As before, Marc led Hero through the parking lot, into the tunnel and on to the opening of the train station platform. He harnessed the bloodhound and let him sniff Felicity’s scent pad. He kept Hero’s lead taut, but let him explore at will.
They were barely inside the tunnel, when Hero started pulling Marc, sniffing the ground, straining in his harness to keep moving forward.
Marc tightened his grip on the leash, letting Hero sniff the length of the tunnel. The bloodhound moved swiftly, giving sharp, repeated barks.
It was all the confirmation Marc needed.
“Good boy,” he praised. “Let’s go.”
He sprinted Hero back through the tunnel and across the parking lot to the van. “Success!” he called out to Casey, giving her a thumbs-up. He gestured to Ryan and to Patrick, as well as to the task force. “Felicity got off the train at this station. There’s not a doubt in my mind—or in Hero’s.”
“That’s it.” Hope practically jumped off the seat. “We have to find her. I have to go.”
“Not yet.” Casey was already calling Hutch on speed dial. “Racing off without a strategy will only increase the time it takes to find Felicity and Krissy. We need to get organized. Then we’ll act.”
“Casey?” Hutch answered.
“It’s New Hamburg. Hero picked up her scent in the tunnel and on the platform. Marc is sure. And if he’s sure, then I’m sure.”
“We’re on our way.”
Felicity’s heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst out of her chest. Her legs ached. Her throat was sore from shouting Krissy’s name.
Tears filled her eyes, trickled down her cheeks. Oh, Krissy…Krissy, my baby, where are you?
She stopped running long enough to push her hair off her face and peer around. Her face was scratched and bleeding from the branches she’d shoved out of her way. How long a stretch of woods had she covered? It all looked the same. Dirt. Rocks. Trees.
But no Krissy.
Oh, Krissy, why did you run away? I told you I’d keep you safe. I told you we’d find a new home, that I’d build you a new princess suite. What were you so afraid of that made you run?
I did everything right. I know I did everything right. Mama said I did everything right.
But it’s my fault. Mama kept the world away. She kept me safe.
I couldn’t do that for you, Krissy. The world wouldn’t leave us alone. Those horrible FBI people won’t go away. They gave up when it came to me. Why won’t they give up when it comes to you? Why won’t they understand that you’re happy? That we’re both happy? That you’re where you belong?
You saw me be afraid. That’s why you ran. It scared you. Mothers are supposed to hide their fear. To control themselves. To be in charge. To be strong.
I didn’t do that. I was weak.
It won’t happen again.
Please, Krissy, let me help you. I’ll make it better. I’ll take you away. Mama will understand. She knows what you need. You need me. Only me.
But I can’t find you. I have to find you.
Mama’s leaving me. You’re all I have. You’re my whole world now.
And I let you down.
Gasping for breath, seized by panic, Felicity resumed tearing through the woods, zigzagging from tree to tree and shouting Krissy’s name.
Nothing answered back but the wind.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
The hamlet of New Hamburg was small.
Still, the surge of law enforcement officials spread out fast, intent on covering every square inch as rapidly as possible. They were fully aware that only a short time had passed since Felicity had arrived.
But a lot could happen in that brief interval.
Patrick joined the search party, going from house to house and street to street. Ryan joined them, but he was also glued to Hope Willis’s side as her appointed bodyguard and warden to make sure that she didn’t take off on her own and do something stupid.
Hope fought her confinement tooth and nail. But, in the end, she had no choice. She couldn’t outsmart Ryan, and she certainly couldn’t overpower him. And, if it was a choice between waiting in the van or not being nearby when they did find Krissy, there was no decision to make.
Casey teamed up with Marc, took Hero and began their search. Marc had the professional rescue skills, and Casey had the trailing experience with bloodhounds. As a human scent evidence dog, Hero was the most qualified of all. The three of them made a formidable team. And they were hell-bent on finding Krissy.
“Linda kept Felicity in a quiet house in the country,” Casey said as she and Marc let Hero guide them. “Felicity would want to replicate that environment as closely as possible.”
“That describes most of this hamlet,” Marc returned.
“True. But Ryan checked the map. There’s a section of houses in wooded areas, with little visibility to neighbors. That’s where I’d start.”
“I’m sure that’s where Ryan is starting, too.”
“But he’s limited by his duties as a bodyguard. We’ll probably beat him there. If not, we’ll all split up by street.”
Hero was already pacing along, sniffing intently as he did.
“How much geographic territory can Hero’s nose cover?” Marc asked.
“From what Hutch has told me and from what I’ve read, it’s pretty awesome. He can search fifteen linear miles, maybe more, and narrow it down to half a block.”
Marc whistled. “That’s amazing.”
“It certainly is.” A half smile. “Then again, he is a member of Forensic Instincts.”
“True,” Marc said drily. “We are an extraordinary bunch.”
Once they reached the wooded area Casey had described, the terrain became difficult—rocks and dirt covering the ground, the sharp branches of trees impeding their progress and scratching their faces.
Casey’s cell phone rang.
“We found the house,” Ryan told her. “But there’s no one here. The basement is set up just the way Claire described. And the back door is open. They definitely took off in a hurry.”
“Where are you?” Casey demanded, checking the map Ryan had printed for her.
“Thirty-nine Pine Street. But there’s no point in coming here. The task force called ERT. They’ll examine the crime scene. We’ve got to get out there and find Krissy.”
Casey was scanning the map. She stopped when she found Pine Street. “We’re not all that far.” She glanced at her handheld GPS. “We’re in the woods just west of you.”
“Okay, well you should be joined by a handful of agents in a matter of minutes. So don’t freak out when you hear them coming. But keep looking. Felicity took Krissy in one of two directions—east or west. They’re the only sections surrounding her house that are wooded. There are trees to the north and
south, but they lead to the street and, eventually, to other houses. A group of local cops are covering that territory, but I doubt it’ll lead to anything. Peg took a team to the east. Bob and Hutch are moving west. Patrick and I are about to join them.”
“With Hope in tow?”
“No choice,” Ryan replied in a clipped, coded response.
“Got it.” Casey snapped to as Hero began to strain at his lead. “Ryan, I’ve gotta go. Hero’s picked up a fresh scent trail.”
“I’m on my way.”
Marc was already following Hero’s lead, winding his way through the woods as quietly as he could. Casey hurried until she caught up.
There was the definite crunch of footsteps in the not-too-remote distance. It could be the agents. Or it could be Felicity.
Judging from Hero’s reaction, it was the latter.
Hero was most emphatically “in odor,” as the FBI called it. He climbed over the rocks and weaved through the trees, pulling at the lead until Marc had to pick up speed.
“Krissy?” called out a frantic female voice just ahead of them. “Is that you? Please, princess, answer me!”
Everything happened at once.
Hero lunged forward. The pounding of a surge of footsteps raced up behind them. And a streak of movement flashed through the trees in front of them.
A woman. Blonde. Slim. Frantic.
Felicity.
“FBI! Stop where you are!” Casey heard Hutch’s command even as she felt him rush by her, weapon raised. Peg and a dozen other cops and agents followed suit, forming a half circle around the immediate area.
The woman froze.
“Help me,” she begged plaintively, not even trying to escape. “I can’t find my daughter.”
“We’ll find her for you.” Peg marched over to Felicity, holstering her gun and drawing Felicity’s hands behind her back so she could handcuff her.
Felicity stood by docilely, her face scratched and tear streaked, her eyes glazed, damp with worry. She looked like a frail, broken doll.
“Where did you last see your…daughter?” Hutch went along with the charade, more than aware that now was not the time to slam Felicity with reality.
“In the house. She ran away. I don’t know where she is. She could be hurt. Oh, God, this is all my fault. Please, please find her. I can’t leave her out there. The world is ugly. And Krissy is beautiful. A princess. Save her.”
“We will.” Hutch turned to Marc. “Do you have anything of Krissy’s with you?”
“I do.”
Before Marc could answer, a shaken voice brought their heads around. Hope was walking slowly toward them, Krissy’s T-shirt extended. She was staring at Felicity. Her mouth opened and closed several times, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know what or how.
Felicity gazed back at her, confusion and wonder flashing across her face. “Hope?” she asked in a faraway voice. “Are you real? I thought that was you at the house. Mama said it wasn’t. She said I was imagining it, that I was just picturing Krissy and me together. But she was wrong, wasn’t she? You’re real.”
“Yes, Felicity, I’m real,” Hope answered in a shattered voice. She released Krissy’s T-shirt into Hutch’s hands, watching as he ran forward and waved it under Hero’s snout.
He and Marc took off with the determined bloodhound.
Hope’s stare shifted back to Felicity. She studied her sister’s depleted state, her mental deterioration, and all the accusations and venom she’d been harboring drained out of her. “Did you take good care of her?” she managed, remembering the laughter of a six-year-old twin who’d been stolen from her life.
“I tried.” Tears were sliding down Felicity’s cheeks. “But not hard enough. She got away. I—I don’t understand.” She lowered her head, breaking down entirely. “I don’t understand.”
Hope raised her head, and her gaze met Casey’s. She looked ill. “Will they find Krissy?” she managed. “Please?”
“There’s not a doubt in my mind,” Casey replied. “She can’t be far.”
Hero air-scented Krissy within minutes.
The instant he began pulling at the lead, Hutch and Marc began calling out.
“Krissy!” Hutch shouted. “We’re the FBI. Policemen. We’re here to help you.”
There was a slight rustle from the left.
“Krissy, it’s okay,” Marc called out. “We caught the woman who looks like your mommy. She can’t hurt you. And your real mommy is here. She wants to take you home.”
“But first you have to tell us where you are.” Hutch gestured to Marc, pointing at a cluster of trees diagonally ahead of them by about thirty feet.
Marc nodded.
Hero was already heading in that direction.
“Krissy?” Hutch called out again. “Where are you, honey?”
Hero rounded the circle of trees and began braying.
His outburst clearly startled Krissy, because she let out a soft cry.
“It’s okay,” Marc repeated, going up to the terrified child, who was cringing against the tree trunk. He squatted down so he was at her level. “This is Hero. He works with us. He’s very friendly. And he is a hero, because he helped us find you.”
The little blonde girl hugged her stuffed panda and robin, gazing at Marc with huge eyes. She had cuts on her arms and face, her clothes were torn and her hair was disheveled. But she was alive and unharmed. “Is he really a police dog?” she whispered.
“Even cooler,” Hutch said, coming around the bend. “He’s an FBI dog. That makes him even more famous. And he’s here just for you.”
“Wow.” Krissy leaned forward and tentatively petted Hero, who was now quiet and rolling over to get a belly scratch, having completed his task.
The bloodhound licked her palm.
“Is that woman really gone?” Krissy asked in a small, frightened voice. “And is my mommy really here?”
“Yes and yes,” Hutch supplied. He extended his hand. “Would you like to see her?”
She put her small trusting hand in his big one and nodded her tousled head, her lashes spiked with tears. “Yes.”
They made their way through the trees, retracing their steps.
“Look who’s here,” Marc announced, as he, Hutch and Hero reappeared, walking Krissy into the clearing where Hope waited.
“Mommy!” Krissy had no trouble recognizing her mother. She ran past Felicity, giving her one terrified glance, and then dashed straight into her mother’s arms, crushing Oreo and Ruby against her.
“Oh, baby. Oh, Krissy. Thank God.” Hope lifted her daughter, openly sobbing as she hugged and kissed her again and again. “You’re not hurt, are you?”
“My scratches burn.” Krissy was sobbing, too, her words barely discernible as she buried her face against her mother’s shoulder.
“But Felic—the woman who took you—she didn’t hurt you, did she?”
Krissy shook her head back and forth. “She tried to hug me. But I said no. And she stopped. She wouldn’t go away. But she wouldn’t take me home.”
“Thank God.” Hope buried her lips in her daughter’s hair. “I love you. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too. And I missed you. I was so scared. Oreo and Ruby missed you, too.” She held up the rumpled stuffed animals.
“And I missed them.” Hope planted a kiss on each of their heads. “But I know they took good care of you.”
“They did. They slept with me every night.” Krissy leaned back, gazing at her mother for corroboration. “Are we really going home?”
“We really are.” Hope looked past her daughter, taking in the entire crowd of professionals, her grateful stare lingering on Casey. “Thank you,” she managed, her voice quavering with emotion. “Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
Her gaze shifted to Felicity, who was standing there like a lost soul, pain and sorrow etched on her face.
“Krissy,” Hope said to her daughter. “Would you stand right here with Agen
t Hutchinson? Just for a minute. I need to talk to the woman you were with.”
Renewed fear flashed in Krissy’s eyes. “But what if she takes you, too?”
“She can’t take me. See? Her hands are chained behind her back. The police and FBI are with her. She can’t take anyone.” A painful pause as Hope inspected every inch of her child. “You’re going to be fine, baby. We all are.”
“Come on, Krissy.” Ryan stepped forward, sticking out his hand. “I’m a friend of your Mommy and of Agent Hutchinson. I spend lots of time with Hero. How about coming with Agent Hutchinson and me so that Hero can show you some of the cool tricks he knows.”
That was an excellent incentive.
Krissy let her mother lower her feet to the ground. Then, she ran over and took Ryan’s hand. She went with him over to Hutch, Marc and Hero, where she squatted down to play with the bloodhound and see what amazing feats he could do.
Certain her child was in good hands, Hope walked toward Felicity, stopping when the two sisters were face-to-face. “You are my twin,” Felicity managed, still staring at Hope as if she were part of a fairy tale. “You aren’t made-up. You’re real…. Mama was wrong. The dreams I used to have are real. When I was little…when I was scared…all that really happened. Just like it happened to Krissy. I shouldn’t have taken that car. I shouldn’t have hurt anyone, taken anything or tried to be you. But Mama said I was confused. She said I had to do these things so I could have my princess. She said it was the only way I wouldn’t be lonely when she left me forever. But it was all wrong, wasn’t it? Mama made a mistake.”
“Yes, Felicity, she did.” Hope was holding herself together by a thread. “How did you know how to do all those things? How did you know how to be me?”
“Mama helped me plan it…. Sometimes she’s not so sick. Sometimes she’s Mama. And she’s so smart. I’m smart, too. I take after her. She always says so. So we wrote down the plan. I had to become me. I had to take my baby. But I wasn’t me, was I? I was you.” Felicity gave a hard shake of her head. “I’m so confused.”
“How could you not be?” Hope replied. “You were kidnapped when we were six. You’ve lived in another world since then. I can’t imagine…” She broke off, her throat clogged with emotion. “We’re going to get you help. Then you’ll remember.”