the connection has slipped away. “I don’t know, it just popped out.”
Their conversation bothers her for the rest of the day. It dogs her around campus. It nags her on the way home. It worries her as she orders a take-out dinner from a Thai restaurant. And just after she enters her door, as she’s lifting the fragrant meal out of its paper sack, the realization sinks its claws into her chest.
Her breath stops. She goes utterly still, weighing the cost of struggle, but sees no option but surrender.
R eeve’s father, who often consults for Microsoft, has flown to Seattle on Alaska Airlines so many times that he’s on a first-name basis with nearly every flight crew flying out of SFO. He claims an excessive number of frequent-flier miles, and repeatedly offers to fly his daughters to Hawaii or Florida. (Reeve always declines, preferring chilly San Francisco, where she can comfortably wear long sleeves.) Nevertheless, she knows her father won’t be happy with her request.
She tries to keep her voice steady as she sits at his table and relays her conversation with their old friend, Agent Bender. “The thing is, Dad, I know Flint better than anyone. I knew he would head to Dr. Moody’s. Nobody else expected that.”
He makes a noncommittal sound.
“And now there are news cameras stalking me all over campus. And it might sound crazy, but I can’t sleep or study or think of anything except that he’s out on the streets again.” She takes a breath. “So, the thing is, I think I need to go to Seattle.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I hate to ask, but I can’t just sit around here and hide from reporters. And this story isn’t going away until he’s caught.”
“You want to go up there
now
? I don’t think that’s a good idea. What does Dr. Lerner say about this?”
“He’s out of the country, so I haven’t actually spoken to him,” she answers carefully. “But the FBI thinks that maybe I can help.”
“But it’s not safe for you up there, is it? Besides, it’s unnecessary. They’ve got a full-scale manhunt underway.”
“Which Flint has completely evaded. He’s smarter than they think he is.”
“But you said you never wanted to go back there.”
“I know, but now that he’s out, things have changed. I’m having nightmares again. I just feel like I need to do whatever I can until he’s caught. You can understand that, right?”
“But . . .” He shakes his head. “No, actually, I can’t.”
“Dad, I can’t concentrate on my classes, anyway. Besides, it’ll only be a couple of days. I won’t lose much time.”
“I just don’t think this is a good idea.”
“You said yourself that they’re going to catch him. And I’ll be with Milo Bender. What could be safer than that?”
His face creases with concern. “Reeve, call me overprotective, but I hate it that you’re even considering this. What point is there in you going up there? What good can possibly—”
“But Dad, that’s exactly it! If anything good can come out of those years I spent locked in that basement, if I can squeeze anything positive out of all that misery, then I’ve got to try. I’ve got to do something. Besides, I can’t move on with my life with this hanging over my head. And I’m the only one who really knows what he’s capable of.” She’s pleading, she’s talking too fast but can’t stop. “Maybe I know more than I think I do, maybe I can jolt something loose that I’ve blocked out, maybe I can help catch him.”
She grips her hands in her lap, waiting for him to respond.
He says nothing for a long moment, then his eyes meet hers. “How about if I go with you?”
“No Dad, I need to do this alone. I’m not as fragile as you think I am.” After a beat, she adds, “But if you can’t get me a ticket I’ll—”
“Reeve, if you insist, then of course I can get you a ticket.” He shakes his head sadly, cupping her hands in his. “But I’m worried about you. So don’t
Their conversation bothers her for the rest of the day. It dogs her around campus. It nags her on the way home. It worries her as she orders a take-out dinner from a Thai restaurant. And just after she enters her door, as she’s lifting the fragrant meal out of its paper sack, the realization sinks its claws into her chest.
Her breath stops. She goes utterly still, weighing the cost of struggle, but sees no option but surrender.
R eeve’s father, who often consults for Microsoft, has flown to Seattle on Alaska Airlines so many times that he’s on a first-name basis with nearly every flight crew flying out of SFO. He claims an excessive number of frequent-flier miles, and repeatedly offers to fly his daughters to Hawaii or Florida. (Reeve always declines, preferring chilly San Francisco, where she can comfortably wear long sleeves.) Nevertheless, she knows her father won’t be happy with her request.
She tries to keep her voice steady as she sits at his table and relays her conversation with their old friend, Agent Bender. “The thing is, Dad, I know Flint better than anyone. I knew he would head to Dr. Moody’s. Nobody else expected that.”
He makes a noncommittal sound.
“And now there are news cameras stalking me all over campus. And it might sound crazy, but I can’t sleep or study or think of anything except that he’s out on the streets again.” She takes a breath. “So, the thing is, I think I need to go to Seattle.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I hate to ask, but I can’t just sit around here and hide from reporters. And this story isn’t going away until he’s caught.”
“You want to go up there
now
? I don’t think that’s a good idea. What does Dr. Lerner say about this?”
“He’s out of the country, so I haven’t actually spoken to him,” she answers carefully. “But the FBI thinks that maybe I can help.”
“But it’s not safe for you up there, is it? Besides, it’s unnecessary. They’ve got a full-scale manhunt underway.”
“Which Flint has completely evaded. He’s smarter than they think he is.”
“But you said you never wanted to go back there.”
“I know, but now that he’s out, things have changed. I’m having nightmares again. I just feel like I need to do whatever I can until he’s caught. You can understand that, right?”
“But . . .” He shakes his head. “No, actually, I can’t.”
“Dad, I can’t concentrate on my classes, anyway. Besides, it’ll only be a couple of days. I won’t lose much time.”
“I just don’t think this is a good idea.”
“You said yourself that they’re going to catch him. And I’ll be with Milo Bender. What could be safer than that?”
His face creases with concern. “Reeve, call me overprotective, but I hate it that you’re even considering this. What point is there in you going up there? What good can possibly—”
“But Dad, that’s exactly it! If anything good can come out of those years I spent locked in that basement, if I can squeeze anything positive out of all that misery, then I’ve got to try. I’ve got to do something. Besides, I can’t move on with my life with this hanging over my head. And I’m the only one who really knows what he’s capable of.” She’s pleading, she’s talking too fast but can’t stop. “Maybe I know more than I think I do, maybe I can jolt something loose that I’ve blocked out, maybe I can help catch him.”
She grips her hands in her lap, waiting for him to respond.
He says nothing for a long moment, then his eyes meet hers. “How about if I go with you?”
“No Dad, I need to do this alone. I’m not as fragile as you think I am.” After a beat, she adds, “But if you can’t get me a ticket I’ll—”
“Reeve, if you insist, then of course I can get you a ticket.” He shakes his head sadly, cupping her hands in his. “But I’m worried about you. So don’t
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