I stopped walking. The sounds of the hospital lobby\u2014the paging system, the sliding doors\u2014faded into a dull roar. \u201cWhat do you mean, is she with me? I\u2019m at work, Hannah. I dropped her off at Mom\u2019s this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well, she\u2019s not here,\u201d Hannah said. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen her all day, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n
My phone slipped from my sweaty palm and clattered onto the linoleum. I scrambled to pick it up, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird.<\/p>\n
Hannah,\u201d I snarled, my voice unrecognizable to my own ears. \u201cPut Mom on the phone. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom\u2019s not here. She went to her book club.\u201d<\/p>\n
Where. Is. My. Daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know!\u201d Hannah\u2019s facade cracked, revealing the panic underneath. \u201cI got home from work, and Mom said Olivia left hours ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Left? She\u2019s eight years old! She doesn\u2019t \u2018leave\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n
Look, I\u2019m sure she walked to a friend\u2019s house or\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
I hung up. I didn\u2019t scream. I didn\u2019t cry. I went cold. A deadly, focused cold. I dialed 911 as I ran to my car.<\/p>\n
Emergency services, what is your emergency?\u201d<\/p>\n
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