Silent Run

shot,” Dylan added. “It’s not up-to-date, of course, but maybe those blond curls will ring a bell."
    Sarah nodded and threw back her shoulders as she headed for the door. “Let’s go. I want to get this over with."
    * * *
    Every step Sarah took toward the downstairs conference room filled her heart with dread. She was going to do an interview that would be broadcast around the county. Who knew who would be watching her, listening to her? But this was a good opportunity to get the word out that Caitlyn was missing.
    But was she missing? Or had she hidden her daughter somewhere?
    The thought had been growing slowly in her mind. If someone were trying to hurt her and her daughter, wouldn’t it have made sense for her to find a way to protect her child, put her in a safe place? However, if that place were somewhere close by, why hadn’t anyone come forward to see her, to tell her that Caitlyn was okay? And if she had been in trouble, why hadn’t she turned to Jake for help at some point in the last seven months?
    She blew out a breath of frustration. She didn’t have any answers, but she did know one thing for sure: She’d gotten herself involved in something big, something that made her a target for murder. And she prayed to God that her daughter wasn’t in the middle of her mess. She had to find a way to make things right. Maybe this interview was the first step. But as they reached the conference room, every instinct she had screamed at her to run, to hide in the shadows, to stay out of sight, not to trust anyone or anything. Somewhere in her past she’d been betrayed by someone she’d trusted.
    Jake caught her eye, a question in his gaze. “What’s wrong?"
    â€œI don’t want to do this."
    â€œYou have to."
    â€œSarah is just stalling, trying to figure out how to protect herself,” Dylan interjected. “She only cares about herself and what she has to hide."
    â€œMaybe what I have to hide is the only thing protecting Caitlyn,” Sarah returned, glaring at Dylan. “You told me you don’t know who I am or where I’ve been. You don’t know any more about me than I do."
    â€œI know a liar when I see one,” Dylan retorted.
    â€œThat’s enough, both of you,” Jake said, cutting Sarah off before she could reply. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. None of us knows where Caitlyn is or why she’s not with you, Sarah. But this is one thing we can do to try to move forward. And that’s the only place I’m interested in going. So let’s get this over with."
    Sarah drew in a deep breath as they entered the conference room. An attractive blonde named Jillian Davis greeted them, giving Dylan a particularly flirtatious smile. They seemed to know each other from somewhere, talking about their time together on a previous story while the cameraman set up the shot. Finally Jillian turned to Sarah.
    â€œI’ll just ask a couple of questions,” Jillian said. “Try to be as open as you can. Let the public see your desperation, so they will want to respond to your plea for help. This is going to be a live shot."
    Live? That meant she couldn’t screw up. She had to get it right the first time. Sarah sat down in a chair in front of a big bright light. She could hear Jillian speaking to her cameraman about how much time before they started. Their voices faded in her head, replaced by a rush of panic. She closed her eyes, trying to find some calm, but then another disturbing image popped into her head...
    There were news trucks outside the building, reporters with microphones, light stands set up on the sidewalk. Every network in the city was waiting for the news.
    â€œIt’s almost time to go,” a woman said. “No one will see her leave, I promise."
    She ignored the woman, looking over at the tall man in the center of the room, the one who was calling the shots. “I can’t do this."
    â€œIt’s too late to change your mind. From now on you’re dead; do you understand? It’s the only way out."
    â€œMs. Tucker. Sarah.” The voice seemed to come from a long way away. “What’s wrong with her? Is she going to be able to do this?” Jillian asked.
    â€œSarah, snap out of it."
    Jake’s voice broke through her reverie, and she jerked under the hand he had placed on her shoulder. Her eyes flew open. “What? What did you say?"
    â€œI