The first phone call lasted only eight seconds.

“Emma…”

My father’s voice sounded strangely calm.

“We can’t find Lily.”

The shopping bags slipped from my hands.

“What do you mean you can’t find her?”

“There are a lot of people here.”

“We’re still looking.”

I didn’t wait for another word.

I grabbed my car keys and drove toward the county fairgrounds faster than I ever should have.

My six-year-old daughter had begged for weeks to spend the afternoon riding the Ferris wheel with Grandpa.

I almost said no.

Now I wished I had.

The parking lot was nearly empty when I arrived.

Rain clouds covered the evening sky.

The colorful lights of the fair flickered as workers began shutting down the rides.

I found my parents standing near the main entrance.

Neither of them looked panicked.

My mother crossed her arms.

“We’ve already called security.”

Dad avoided my eyes.

“Where did you last see her?”

Mom shrugged.

“Near the carousel.”

“She wandered off.”

Lily had never wandered anywhere without asking first.

Never.

I ran through the fairgrounds calling her name until my throat burned.

Ten minutes later, I heard the faintest sob behind one of the closed game booths.

She was curled beneath a wooden counter, hugging her knees.

Her jacket was missing.

Her shoes were covered in mud.

When she saw me, she didn’t run into my arms.

She whispered,

“Mama…”

Then she looked over her shoulder before speaking again.

“He said Grandpa promised I wouldn’t tell.”

Every hair on my arms stood up.

I wrapped her tightly in my coat.

As I lifted her, I noticed something that made my heart stop.

Around her tiny wrist…

There was a fresh red mark.

Not from falling.

Not from playing.

It looked as though someone had gripped her hard enough to leave fingerprints.

Very gently I asked,

“Who hurt you?”

Lily swallowed.

Then pointed toward the employee parking area.

“The man with the silver truck.”

My heart began pounding.

“What man?”

She leaned close enough that only I could hear.

“The one Grandma hugged before she left me.”

I slowly turned.

Across the parking lot…

A silver pickup truck was pulling away.

And standing beside my father…

Was a man I hadn’t seen since I was a teenager.

A man my family once swore they would never allow near us again.

The moment he realized I had recognized him…

He took off running.

To be continued…