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but said he doesn’t remember seeing her yesterday. And no one from the doctor’s office saw her either.”
    I take a seat on my sofa. Paul moves to sit in a chair opposite me. “So what’s next? What can we be doing?”
    “I’m giving the police my full cooperation. I have a private investigator our firm uses too. He already has all the details. I won’t leave anything to chance, Paul.” He nods. “For now, the police have asked for a list of anyone who might’ve wanted to harm Lucy. If you can think of anyone, anything at all that will help…”
    Liz laughs sharply, an hysterical sound. “No one would want to harm Lucy! Everybody loved her!”
    Paul gets up and puts his arms around his wife again. “We know that, dear. But the police have to start looking somewhere.”
    Dad speaks up from his spot at the table. “Maybe she should lie down, Paul. Alex has the guest room ready.”
    Liz only shoots him a hard look. “I don’t need to lie down, Ron. I’m not a child!” She turns quickly though and walks down the hall to the bathroom, slamming the door behind herself.
    Paul gives an apologetic look and goes to follow her.
    PJ looks uncomfortable and takes a seat at the table finally. Mom hands him a plate. She needs to feel useful right now to someone. I know how she feels.
    Lucy’s Mom has been struggling with me since our wedding. She still likes me. But she doesn’t like that I’m in charge. Really she doesn’t like that she’s no longer in charge of her daughter.
    I let Lucy talk to her as much as she wants. Except when she’s grounded from using the phone. Three days after I beat Lucy that Wednesday night was the first time I had to tell Liz that Lucy couldn’t take her call. She yelled and threatened me. I stayed calm, but I eventually had to hang up on her.
    When Lucy was able to call her again, I listened while she explained that she was fine with me punishing her like this. I was very proud of Lucy that day. She stuck up for us to her Mom. We’ve had a neutral truce since then.
    Thinking about Lucy. Remembering her voice, her smile, her. I feel even calmer. She can’t be lost to me. I will find her. She belongs to me, with me. I have to keep faith in that.
    I’m jolted out of my thoughts by the phone. Everyone looks to me. Liz and Paul quickly come back into the room as I grab the phone. It’s only the lobby downstairs. Killaney’s back.

Chapter 13 HER
    I wake with one thought. Max doesn’t snore.
    I lift my head and two pains fight for dominance. The left side of my head and my neck. My head wins, I stop moving. I swallow, but something metal pokes at my throat.
    I slowly open my eye. My left still won’t budge. Light is just starting to come through the window. I try to lift my hands to my throat, but this burns my wrists more.
    I’m tied again. I slowly move my head, not lifting it. I can see him next to me. Snoring. In bed.
    Don’t think about that. I was raped! He raped me, Max! How am I supposed to not think about that?! I’m losing it. I need to breathe. Whatever’s on my neck makes it difficult to get deep breaths, but I calm down. I close my eye for a moment. Breathe.
    I open my eye again and see that he has two ropes in his hand. One I can see leads to my wrists. The other trails across me body, up to my neck. A collar. I have a collar on?! Oh God.
    Don’t panic! I obey Max’s sharp tone. I always do. I swallow rapidly several times despite the strain on my throat.
    I slowly move my wrists towards him. Who is he, Lucy? I shake my head slightly. I don’t know. I gently pull the ropes from his loose fingers. Don’t wake him. He doesn’t move. More snores.
    I have the rope ends in my hand. I almost laugh, giddy with freedom. I feel lightheaded for a moment.
    I slowly. Oh so slowly. Move my legs towards the edge of the bed. I want to jump up. I want to run. But I go slow, just like Max is telling me to do. My head shakes with his commanding voice.
    I stop. I can’t see him