While I was on vacation with my cousins, my phone lit up with one message: “Get on a plane home. Don’t tell your parents you’re coming.” When I landed, an attorney and two investigators

”

I lowered my hands.

“He knows?” I whispered.

“He knows we found a strong possibility. He does not know you have arrived. We wanted to speak to you first.”

It was too much. Each fact felt like another stone being placed on my chest.

I stood anyway.

“I need to see them.”

Margaret looked uneasy. “Claire—”

“No,” I said, stronger than I felt. “Natalie. Claire.continue reading …