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sweet. A stone angel in a rose garden. ‘SARAH, BELOVED ANGEL’. I gag a little when I read it. They gave up? They gave up looking? Did I also? Had I moved on? Did I abandon her, leaving her to rot in that place alone and scared with the lonely holding her hostage? Guilt and hatred take turns being more than anything else I can muster.
    “Guess we need to take it down.”
    I speak softly, “Allow me to handle that.”
    Roger looks back at me, “Thank you, Eli. I can never thank you enough.”
    I nod once. I don’t have anything else. I glance at Stuart. His eyes glisten but he sees my face and nods.
    Helen sniffles again, “I don’t know what to do; I just need to see her. Just once, you know. Just once to be sure. I don’t know what I can do. How can I wait? She’s my baby. What will I do?” She leans into her husband and sobs.
    Roger strokes her head, “I’m certain Eli will tell us everything he can.”
    I nod, “Of course. As soon as I know anything. Of course.” It’s a wooden lie and I’m certain they know it, but we all play nice. Stuart clears his throat, “Let me take you guys home. This is a lot to deal with.”
    Roger lifts her but she doesn’t stay with him. She leaps into my arms, sobbing into my chest, “You keep her safe. You keep her safe. Promise me you will. Promise you won't keep anything from us.”
    I break inside, “I will keep her safe and I will ensure you know what I know.” Roger sees it on my face. He breaks too. We don’t have any control and it’s bothering us both. I can sense it. He grabs his destroyed wife, holding her to him. I can't imagine what they’ve been through. I, honestly, don't know how they’ve clutched to each other. My parents never did that. I hand Roger a card, “This is the lead detective and on the back is Dr. Bradley's number. They will verify everything for you. I’m sorry it’s not the reunion you wanted.”
    He shakes his head, “Eli, she’s alive and safe. As parents, you can't ask for more than that. You have no right to it. You let her down once already.” I know that pain.
    He walks away with Stuart. When I can't see them anymore, I pull the phone from my pocket. The live stream is a bit blurry but I can see her. She’s doing homework. Something about her look makes me smile. It’s something I haven’t seen before. She’s curious or daydreaming. I would die to know what it is about. Instead, I send a text.
    ‘Sledgehammer and a clean up crew.’
    ‘Already ordered.’
    If anyone knows the pain of being left behind and forgotten, it’s Stuart. He would die, if he too, had a tomb somewhere.
    I don’t know if I have waited long for Stuart or not. She’s there in my mind and in front of me on the screen. She is everything, and somehow, she fills the void where the white noise and fuzz take away my feelings.
    With her I feel a thousand things. Most of them are bad but it’s better than needing the pain to make me human again.
    A sledgehammer drops on the ground next to me. I glance up at him, “They okay?”
    He shakes his head, “No. They called that cop from the truck. They were sobbing and freaking out but he got them calmed down. He told them everything you said. They called Dr. Bradley after. She explained that she’s basically living in a box and doesn’t know it. She’s under constant surveillance and safe, and that they need to keep their distance so she doesn’t have all those bad things rush in all at once.”
    I pass him the phone and pick up the hammer. I pull off my jacket and roll up my sleeves.
    “Don’t wreck any of the other tombs and headstones.”
    I look at the others and nod, “I’ll try not to.”

Chapter Five

    Boston - August 2012

    “The hallway has cameras and I’ve linked them to the laptop.”
    I look at him expectantly, “What about the room? I can’t see her in the room. I've spent two years watching her room, I want that."
    Stuart points at me, “Don’t start this shit again. Dr.