CHAPTER 32
I t’s Monday and I’m here braiding Sophie’s hair as I reflect on how yesterday was a blur of birthday excitement. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. After the Galleria we all headed back to Gavin’s house where he somehow had a cake ready and waiting.
I weave Sophie’s blonde strands between my fingers, working on her second braid while she hums the tune to “Let It Go” for the hundredth time this morning. My lips curl into a smile as her head starts to move to said tune.
“Sit still Soph, I’m almost done, just a few more twists.”
“Can I have the pink bows today, Mommy?”
“Of course.” I reach for the bows next to me on the bed.
The sharp trill of my phone cuts through the peaceful morning air. My hands freeze mid-braid as I glimpse Officer Martinez’s contact info lighting up the screen. My throat constricts, and the room suddenly feels ten degrees colder.
Sophie turns her head, causing the unfinished braid to slip from my trembling fingers. “Mommy?”
“Hold still, sweetie.” My voice comes out higher than usual. I clear my throat and call out, “Gavin? Can you come here for a minute?”
Heavy footsteps approach, and Gavin appears in the doorframe, already dressed in his work scrubs. His eyes narrow with concern as they meet mine.
“Everything okay?”
I gesture toward Sophie with a slight head tilt. “Would you mind getting her some breakfast? I need to take this call.” My hands are shaking so bad I can barely finish tying the hair tie around her hair.
Understanding floods his features. “Come on, Soph.” He steps into the room and helps her off the bed. “Let’s get you some Lucky Charms while you mama takes her call.”
“But my braid-” She protests, feeling the unfinished part where I tied it off with the hair tie.
“I’ll finish it after, baby. I promise.” I force a smile, watching as Gavin walks her out.
The phone continues its relentless ringing. I get up and close the bedroom door pressing my back against it, sliding down until the back of my thighs hit carpet. My heart pounds against my ribs as I stare at the screen, Officer Martinez’s name blurring through the tears already forming in my eyes.
“Get it together, Bailey,” I whisper to myself, taking three deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth. The phone stops ringing, then immediately starts again.
With trembling fingers, I swipe to answer. “Hello?”
“Ms. Monroe? This is Officer Martinez.” His voice sounds exactly the same as it did when he took my statement a week ago. “I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”
My free hand clutches the fabric of my pajama shorts. “No, it’s fine. Is everything… is something wrong?”
“I wanted to update you on a development in the case.”
My throat tightens instantly. “What kind of development?”
“We received an anonymous tip this morning that Mr. Monroe was staying at the Sunrise Motel, just outside town limits.” He pauses. “The room had been recently occupied but by the time we got there, he—”
“He was already gone?” I finish his sentence. “Do you think it was really him?”
“The description from the motel staff matches yours, and we found some items that suggest it was him. We’ve increased patrols in the area and notified all surrounding jurisdictions. We’re doing everything we can to locate him.”
I close my eyes, trying to steady my breathing.
“Ms. Monroe, are you still there?” Officer Martinez’s voice cuts through the static in my brain.
“Yes, sorry.” I press my palm flat against the carpet, focusing on its rough texture. “I just… I need to know. Was there anything to indicate he knows where we are now?”
“Nothing concrete, but I want you to remain vigilant. The motel’s about twenty or so miles from your current location.”
My chest constricts. Twenty miles. That’s so close. The room spins as the last memory of Matt flashes in my mind. His fist connecting with the side of my face.
“Ms. Monroe?” Officer Martinez’s voice sounds distant. “Are you alright?”
I force air into my lungs. “I’m here. Just processing.”
“I understand this is difficult information. Like I said we’ll have extra patrols in the area, and I want you to call immediately if you notice anything suspicious.”
My fingers dig into the carpet.
“Thank you, Officer Martinez. I’ll keep an eye out.” My voice sounds hollow even to my own ears.
“I’ve made a note to check in with you every couple of days. And remember, you have my direct line. Please call anytime, day or night.”
“I will.” I end the call and sit frozen against the door, staring at the opposite wall without really seeing it.
Matt’s still here. Twenty miles away. The distance I had put between us that once felt like a safety barrier now seems paper-thin. My breathing quickens as panic claws its way up my throat.
A gentle knock on the door startles me back to reality.
“Bailey? Everything okay in there?” Gavin’s voice is soft through the wood.
I scramble to my feet, wiping away tears I didn’t realize had fallen. “Yeah, just… give me a minute.”
In the en-suite bathroom, I splash cold water on my face, avoiding my reflection. I can’t let Sophie see me like this. She’s too young to understand, but she picks up on everything. One look at my face and she’ll know something’s wrong.
When I finally emerge, I find her at the kitchen table, happily munching on cereal while Gavin stands at the island, concern etched across his features.
“Mommy! Gavin let me put extra marshmallows in my bowl!” She grins, milk dribbling down her chin.
I force a smile. “That’s great, baby.” I grab a napkin and wipe her face, my hands still trembling slightly.
Gavin moves closer, voice low. “You okay?”
I nod almost imperceptibly as I head towards the garbage can and whisper. “They found where Matt was staying, some hotel not far from here.”
His jaw tightens, eyes darkening. “Did they arrest him?”
“He was gone before they got there.” I busy myself with fixing Sophie’s unfinished braid, focusing on the familiar motion to keep myself grounded. “Officer Martinez said they’ll increase patrols, but…”
“But it doesn’t feel like enough,” Gavin finishes, understanding in his voice.
“No. It doesn’t.”
I watch Sophie finish her cereal, her little legs swinging beneath the chair. Every fiber of my being screams to grab her, pack our bags, and run again. But where would we go? How many times can we start over before it breaks her?
“Mommy, can we still go see Buttercup today?” Her voice pulls me from my spiral.
My first instinct is to cancel. To keep us locked away where Matt can never find us. But the thought of disappointing her, of letting him take one more thing from us…
“Of course we can, baby.” I smooth her hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. “We made a promise to Jake and Ms. Lucy that you’d be there, remember?”
Her face lights up. “And Ms. Lucy said I could feed Buttercup carrots today!”
“That’s right.” I force enthusiasm into my voice, even as my stomach churns. “Why don’t you go pick out what you want to wear?”
She scrambles down from her chair and races to our room, braids bouncing.
Gavin steps closer to me, his voice low. “You sure about this? No one would blame you for staying in today.”
I lean against the counter, fingers gripping the edge. “I can’t let him control our lives anymore. Sophie deserves normal things. Friends, activities, memories that don’t involve looking over her shoulder.”
“I get that.” He crosses his arms, concern etched in his features. “But maybe wait a few days, let things settle?”
“And then what? Wait a few more days after that? And then a few more?” I shake my head. “There will always be a reason to be afraid. I have to figure out how to live with it without letting it consume us.”
The sound of Sophie singing to herself drifts from our room, some made-up song about horses and butterflies. The normalcy of it makes my chest ache.
“At least let me go with you,” He offers. “I can hang around during the lesson, keep an eye out.”
“Don’t you have appointments at the clinic?”
“I can reschedule.” His gaze holds mine. “Your safety matters more than routine checkups.”
I take a deep breath, nodding at him. “Okay.” Relief washing over me, though I hate admitting how much safer it makes me feel. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. I’ll follow y’all in my truck.” His shoulders relax slightly.
Sophie bursts back into the kitchen, wearing her favorite shirt with horses galloping across the front and her little jeans. She’s clutching her pink cowboy boots in her hands, her face a mixture of determination and frustration.
“Mommy, I need help.” She thrusts the boots toward me.
I kneel down, taking the boots. “Well, these things are being stubborn today, huh? Come here.”
She plops down on the floor, sticking her feet out. I guide each foot into its boot, giving a gentle tug to get them on properly.
“There we go. Ready to be a cowgirl?”
She jumps up, stomping her feet to settle the boots. “I’m already a cowgirl! Mr. Jake said so!”
“He sure did.” I half smile, trying to sound as normal as I can. “Give me two minutes to change, okay? Then we can go see Buttercup.”
In our room I quickly swap my pajamas for a pair of denim shorts and a plain t-shirt. It’s faded from too many washes, but it’s comfortable and familiar, something I need today. I pull my hair into a messy bun and slip on my shoes.
When I return, Sophie is showing Gavin her drawing of Buttercup.
“Ready?” I grab my keys and purse from the counter, slipping the strap over my shoulder. I’m determined to let Sophie have a normal day even though my own has already been completely rocked. No need for her to carry my emotional baggage.
“Ready!” She skips toward the door, her little boots clomping on the hardwood floor. She turns back with an expectant smile that melts my heart despite everything else swirling in my mind
Sophie waves goodbye to Jake and Ms. Lucy, her cheeks flushed from the riding lesson and the warm Texas weather. The temperature’s already climbing, and it’s not even noon yet.
“Did you see me, Mommy? Did you see how good I did with Buttercup?”
“I sure did, baby. You’re becoming quite the little rider.” I help her buckle into her car seat, making sure it’s secure.
“Where did Gavin go?” Her question makes my stomach clench. He’d gotten an emergency call about a horse in distress halfway through her lesson. The look of reluctance on his face when he had to leave still sits with me.
“He had to go help a sick horse.” I say turning the AC to full blast and adjust the rearview mirror, scanning the area out of habit. “That’s what veterinarians do.”
The car starts to cool down as we pull away from Ms. Lucy’s. My hands grip the steering wheel tighter than necessary, but I can’t help it. Being out in the open makes my skin crawl and seeing our tiny little house sends a shiver down my spine. Matt tainted that little piece of sanctuary for us.
“Mommy?” Sophie’s voice pipes up from the backseat.
“Yes, baby?”
“I’m hot.” She drags out the word ‘hot’ into multiple syllables. “Texas is super hot. Like, super-duper hot.”
I glance at her in the mirror. Her hair is still sticking to her forehead despite the AC. “We’ll be back at Gavin’s soon, sweetie.”
“But Mommy…” Here it comes. I recognize that tone. “Can we get ice cream? Please? Pretty please with sprinkles on top?”
My first instinct is to say no. We should head straight back to Gavin’s house where I can arm the house. Where I can breathe easier. Where-
“Please, Mommy? I did good with Buttercup today. And it’s so hot. Like, hotter than the sun!”
I bite my lip, warring with myself. She did do amazing today, and it is getting hotter…
“Pretty please? With cherries AND sprinkles?” She begs, folding her hands together.
“Okay.” The word slips out before I can stop it. “But just a quick stop, alright?”
Her giggle of delight almost makes the anxiety worth it. Almost.
I turn onto Main Street, and then drive to Scoops parking lot.
It’s nearly empty, which both relieves and unnerves me.
Stop it, Bailey. Be strong for Sophie.
“Can I get chocolate? With rainbow sprinkles?” She’s already unbuckling herself as I park.
“Hold on there, speed racer.” I climb out and open her door. “Let Mommy help you.”
We push through the door of Scoops and the sweet smell of waffle cones fills my senses. The same teenage boy who served me and Gavin on our first date greets us from behind the counter, and a teenage girl is sweeping near the window.
“Welcome to Scoops!” The boy smiles. “What can I whip up for you two today?”
Sophie presses against my leg, suddenly shy around the stranger. I rest my hand on her shoulder.
“Can we get a chocolate cup with rainbow sprinkles, please?” I pause. “Make that two actually,” I add, figuring I might as well join her. Maybe it’ll help calm my nerves.
“Coming right up!”
While he scoops our ice cream, I scan the shop again. The teenage girl has moved to wiping tables. There’s a couple playing a card game at one high top table. A family of four is playing Trouble and another family plays Go Fish.
Nothing suspicious. No one watching us.
“Here you go, sweetheart.” The boy hands Sophie her cup, rainbow sprinkles scattered like confetti over the ice cream. “Be careful, it’s a bit melty today.” And then he hands me mine.
Her face lights up as she scoops her pink spoon into her treat. “Thank you!”
I pay quickly, and we find a small table near the back corner with a Guess Who? game on it, and I position myself so I can see both the door and the parking lot.
We play two rounds; she giggles every time I guess wrong, and she ends up beating me both games. I wipe chocolate from her chin with a napkin, watching her scrape the last bits of ice cream from her cup. Her face is pure joy, and for a moment, I forget about everything else.
“Mommy?” She sets her empty cup down.
“Yes?”
“Can we get Gavin something too? He had to go help the sick horsie and didn’t get any ice cream.” Her bottom lip juts out slightly. “That’s not fair.”
My chest tightens. I should say no.
“Please?” She clasps her hands together again. “He always shares his cookies with me. And he’s helping the animals that are sick.”
I glance at my phone. No missed calls or texts from Gavin, or anyone for that matter. He’s probably still dealing with the emergency. The rational part of my brain screams that we should just go home, but Sophie’s pleading face…
“Okay.” I sigh. “What should we get him?”
“Strawberry! He told me it’s his favorite.” She says matter-of-fact. “Can we take it to him at his work? Please?”
My stomach knots. The vet clinic is only a few blocks away, but still.
“Sure, honey.” I force a smile. “But you need to stay right here at this table while I order, okay? Don’t move an inch. Can you do that for me?”
She nods solemnly, straightening in her chair. “I’ll guard our table, Mommy. And I’ll watch our Guess Who? game so nobody takes it.”
“That’s my girl.” I stand but hesitate. The counter is only fifteen feet away.
“I won’t move.” She crosses her heart. “Promise.”
I walk toward the counter. The teenage boy is restocking napkins but turns when he sees me approach.
“What can I get you?”
“A strawberry smoothie, please.” I position myself so I can still see Sophie. She waves, and I wave back.
“Coming right up.” He starts gathering ingredients. “That’s your little girl?”
I tense. “Yes.”
“She’s adorable. Reminds me of my little sister.” He drops ice into the blender. “The way she beat you at Guess Who? Classic.”
I force myself to relax. He’s just making conversation. Not everyone is a threat.
“Yeah, she’s pretty good at that game.” I glance back. Sophie is trying to change out the character cards now.
The blender whirs to life, drowning out any response. I use the moment to scan the shop again. The families are still playing their games. The couple has switched to Jenga. The teenage girl is now behind the counter, counting something in the register.
Normal. Everything is normal.
The blender stops and he pours the liquid into a clear cup, placing a lid on top and hands it to me. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” I turn back and Sophie isn’t there. The seat where my daughter sat just seconds ago is empty.
My heart stops, the world tilting sideways as ice floods my veins.
“Sophie?” I call out, my voice shaky and thin. I scan the room frantically, looking for her familiar blonde hair, the pink shirt she’s wearing, the jeans and riding boots she has on. Nothing. Not a single trace.
“Sophie!” I’m louder now, panic rising in my throat like bile, making it hard to breathe. I rush to our table, looking under it, around the nearby booths, behind a potted plant in the corner.
Empty, empty, empty.
Every space I check amplifies my terror.
“Has anyone seen a little girl? Blonde hair, pink shirt? She’s only five!” I’m practically screaming now, my hands shaking so badly I can barely push chairs aside as I run to check the bathroom, throwing open the door. “Sophie! Baby, are you in here?”
The other customers are starting to look concerned, some standing to help search. The staff comes out from behind the counter, the teen boy’s face etched with worry as he starts checking behind the service area.
“The door!” someone calls out, pointing toward the entrance. “Did anyone see the door open? Did anyone go out?”
My phone is in my hand before I realize I’ve grabbed it, dialing 911 frantically, missing the numbers twice before getting it right. My baby, my Sophie, where is my baby?
I run outside into the afternoon sun, scanning the road in both directions. “Sophie!” I scream, my voice cracking with desperation. Pedestrians window shopping swivel their heads in my direction, but I don’t care how hysterical I sound.
“911, what’s your emergency?” The operator’s calm voice feels like a mockery of the panic consuming me.
“My daughter,” I choke out, my heart hammering against my ribs. “She’s gone. She was just here at the table, I only turned away for a minute. She’s five years old, blonde hair in two braids, wearing jeans and pink horse shirt and—” My voice breaks as a horrible thought crashes through me like a tidal wave. “Oh God. Matt. It has to be Matt.”
The operator is saying something about sending officers immediately, asking for more details on my location, but my mind is spinning so fast I can barely focus. My body is shaking as I give the ice cream shop’s address and cross streets. I answer her remaining questions in a daze and hang up. Black spots dance at the edges of my vision as panic closes my throat, I feel like I’m about to hyperventilate or pass out right in the middle of the street, I can’t breathe.
With trembling fingers, I hit Gavin’s number on speed dial, praying he’ll answer quickly.
“Hey beautiful,” his warm voice answers on the second ring.
“Gavin,” I sob, the tears spilling over. “Sophie’s gone. She’s gone. We’re at the ice cream shop and I just turned away for a minute to order you a smoothie and now she’s gone! I think Matt took her—” My words tumble out in a desperate rush.
“I’m on my way,” he cuts me off, his voice sharp with urgency. I hear keys jangling, a door slamming, he says something to the receptionist, but I can’t make out the exact words through the roaring in my ears. “Stay there. I’m only a few minutes away. Are the police coming?”
“Yes,” I whisper, scanning the street again, hoping desperately to see my little girl. “Gavin, what if—”
“We’ll find her.” I hear his truck engine roar to life. “Keep talking to me, Bailey. I’m almost there.”
I go back into the ice cream shop and sink into the chair where just minutes ago Sophie and I were playing Guess Who? My whole world has disappeared in the blink of an eye, and all I can do is stare at the empty seat across from me, praying this is just a nightmare I’ll wake up from.