Dread made her immobile. She could only stand and watch as Lucas made his way across the parking lot, his normally bronzed face whiter than her gi. He pushed the door open and stood silently before her, his throat working frantically.

"Casey," he whispered and Jenna felt the room tilt. Blindly she lowered herself into a chair.

Lucas cleared his throat. "She lost control of your car and went off an embankment."

Bile rose in her throat, choking her. "She's… alive?"

He nodded. "Barely. Come with me."

Thursday, October 6, 8:45 P.M.

Steven and Davies's follow-up visit to the Rahroohs yielded nothing new. Their telephone records had shown a phone call at nine p.m. the night before. Mr. Rahrooh remembered taking the call. Tears ran down his face as he told them he almost had told the boy, no, it was too late to talk to his daughter. Past house rules for receiving phone calls. But she'd looked so eager. "So beautiful," he'd sobbed, completely breaking down, and Steven and Davies took their leave.

Steven buckled himself into the Volvo. "I'm done for the day," he said, completely drained.

Davies set his eyes on a point outside the car window. "Me, too. I'll need a ride back to the motel. You guys still have my rental car in the impound lot."

Steven chuckled. One very tired chuckle. "Sorry about that."

"Well, at least I can say I know how it feels to be on the other side of the mirror. I guess I'm glad the Parkers' neighbor took her civic duty so responsibly. I just wish she'd done it on Parker."

Steven steered in the direction of Davies's motel. "Speaking of which, how did Rudy get out of his house last night to meet Alev? She was in bed when her mother checked on her at eleven. What time were you watching the Lutzes' house?'"

"After I left the search site last night I went back to my hotel room for a few hours sleep. I got to Parker's house about eleven. William got dropped off by some friends at about eleven-thirty-so I know he was home when Alev was still safe in her bed. I took a break around one or so to fill my coffee thermos and get a burrito from the all-night convenience store. Got back around one-thirty."

"So he had a half hour to get out of the house."

"Yeah, that's how I figured it. Damn coffee addiction," Davies said bitterly. "If I'd kept my station maybe that girl would be in her own bed tonight instead of where Parker's got her."

"And maybe if Mrs. Hitler had claimed a headache on the right night, Adolf would never have been born," Steven responded. "You can't change it."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Davies muttered. "Doesn't make it any easier, though."

"No, it doesn't." The car got quiet as Steven mulled over the day. It was almost Nicky's bedtime. He punched the numbers into his cell phone and smiled when Nicky answered.

"Hey, Daddy."

"Hey, baby. How are you?"

"Fine." There was a beat of silence, then an upbeat, "Aunt Helen made pudding for dessert."

"Chocolate?"

"Tapioca."

"Mmmm. Did you save me any?"

Nicky giggled softly. "No, on account of you getting fat."

Steven smiled. If that was the shtick Nicky wanted to harp on, he'd go along for the ride. As long as he could hear his baby giggle. "I am not getting fat."

"Well, Aunt Helen says we've got to keep you fit so you can catch Jenna."

Steven coughed. "She said that?"

"Yessir. So when y'gonna catch her?"

Steven was speechless. "Honey, I don't know that I will." He skillfully guided the conversation elsewhere. "I do know, though, that I love you and wish I were home to kiss you good night."

"Will you see Jenna tonight, Daddy?"

So much for his skill. In more ways than one. He thought about the last two times he'd seen her. He'd be lucky if she ever wanted to see him again. "Probably not, honey. Good night, baby."

"Night, Daddy."

Steven punched END and rolled his eyes. He was going to tape Helen's mouth shut. But she'd probably find some other way to meddle. Sign language or semaphore or something. He'd slipped his phone in his pocket when it jangled. "Thatcher," he answered.

"Thatcher, this is Al Pullman. Investigative Division?"

Steven sat up straighter. "Yeah, sure, you took Dr. Marshall's statement on her slashed tires. Did you catch the boys that did it?'" He could only hope. It would give them a way to get Rudy in for a DNA sample if he got arrested.

Hey. That was an angle.

"No," said Pullman, bringing him back. "But Dr. Marshall's had another incident with her car. I thought you might want to know since… well, since you two seemed… involved."

The hackles on Steven's neck had already started to rise. "What's happened?"

"Her car was vandalized again, but this time they cut her brake line."

Steven's heart jolted, as if struck by lightning. Then raced. "Is she hurt?"

"No, but her friend is. She'd let the friend borrow the car for a weekend outing. Her friend lost control going around a curve and went off the embankment. She's in critical condition."

Steven had to make himself think. Talk. Drive.

Think. She was okay. Jenna was okay. Alive. "Where is her friend?"

"Wake Medical Center," Pullman said. "Dr. Marshall is there with her. I didn't tell Dr. Marshall about the brakes yet. I thought you might want to."

"Thanks, Al. I will. I have an emergency," he said to Davies. "I'll drive you to your motel when I'm done at the hospital."

Thursday, October 6, 9:10 P.M.

Lucas leaned back into the sofa in the surgical waiting room. "I feel so helpless," he murmured. "When are her parents going to get here?"

Jenna looked across the room at Casey's boyfriend, Ned, who was standing in front of the television in the corner, a completely vacant look on his face. "Ned said their flight gets in at eleven or so. I offered to go pick them up at the airport, but he insisted on doing it himself."

Jenna stared at the man she'd previously thought to be adolescent and insensitive. And he may have been in the past, but he wasn't tonight. Ned had taken charge of the situation, signing forms, doing everything Casey needed him to do. But right now Ned's face was blank.

"He's gone into screen saver mode, I think," she murmured, memories of Adam rushing back. All those hours waiting in hospitals just like this one. Sometimes the mind simply couldn't function past the stress anymore. "I've been there."

Lucas took her hand and entwined their fingers. "I guess you have, honey."

A wave of reality unexpectedly bowled into her, leaving her shaky. Blinking away tears, she laid her head on Lucas's shoulder. "She might die, Lucas."

Lucas put his arm around her. "Sshh. Don't think it, Jen."

"I can't help it," she whispered. She's all I have left. "I couldn't stand to lose her, too."

Lucas said nothing, just pulled her closer and laid his cheek on top of her head.

A woman in green scrubs appeared in the doorway. "Casey Ryan's family? I'm Dr. Neuss."

Jenna and Lucas jumped up. Ned turned from the television, slowly, and Jenna saw the look in his eyes she instantly recognized. He truly loves her, she thought. And he believes she will die.

Lucas stepped forward. "We're her friends. Her family's on their way from out of state."

Ned stumbled toward them, looking nauseous. "Is she…?"