But the fear in that little voice was not the fear of an animal.
It was the fear of someone who had already learned what happened when no one came.
Claire straightened in her chair and softened her tone.
—”Honey, tell me your name.”
There was silence on the line. Then a faint creak somewhere inside the house.
The girl answered in a whisper.
—”Emily.”
—”Emily, are you alone right now?”
The child sucked in a shaky breath.
—”No… he’s in the house…”
Claire’s fingers flew across the keyboard.
—”Emily, I need you to stay as quiet as you can. Can you tell me where you are?”
A door thudded somewhere in the background. Then footsteps.
The girl began whispering faster, like she was running out of time.
—”Daddy said not to talk to anybody… but it hurts… it hurts…”
The address flashed onto Claire’s screen from the emergency trace. 1427 Maplewood Drive.
