Silent Run

“What else?"
    â€œThere are some gangs who use tiger tattoos as a sign of their affiliation. Some can be traced back to the Russian Mafia."
    â€œThe Mafia?” she echoed. How could she be involved with the Russian Mafia? It seemed unbelievable, and yet there was something about his statement that made her nerves tingle and her chest tighten. She felt a rush of panic as she struggled to breathe. She pressed the button to roll down the window, but her window was locked. “Please, Jake, I need some air."
    Jake rolled down her window, watching as she drew in some much-needed gulps. Her pulse steadied, but it was still beating fast.
    â€œBetter?” he asked.
    â€œYes."
    â€œGood. We must be coming close to the truth, because you’re getting more scared."
    â€œYeah, I can’t wait to see what happens next,” she said, trying to make light of her terrifying fear. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff. One false step and she’d plummet to her death.
    â€œWhat comes next is that we get Caitlyn back,” he said.
    She wished she could share his confidence, but she couldn’t beat down the feeling that things were going to get worse before they got better. “What do we do now? Go to where I worked?"
    â€œI think we should first talk to the social worker, Eleanor Murphy. Apparently she doesn’t live too far from here. Maybe seeing someone from your past, if you are Jessica, will jog something loose."
    * * *
    Eleanor Murphy lived in a quiet, modest neighborhood of single story ranch-style homes that butted up against a busy LA freeway. An old blue sedan sat in the driveway. The lawn was badly in need of cutting, and three newspapers rested against the front door.
    â€œDoesn’t look like anyone’s home,” Sarah said, noting the closed blinds.
    Jake rang the bell. He waited half a minute, then rang it again.
    â€œJake, look,” Sarah said, her gaze catching on a broken window at the corner of the house. Shattered glass lay on the ground. A piece of plywood covered where the window had been. Her nerves tightened. Something was wrong. She backed down the stairs, her hand to her mouth, feeling as if she were going to be sick.
    â€œSarah, what are you doing?"
    â€œLeaving. We need to leave."
    â€œWhy?"
    Sarah was in such a panic to get away, she stumbled on the cement path. As she stared down at the jagged crack, her mind fled back to the past.
    Her pink shoelaces were untied. She wanted to stop and tie them, but someone had hold of her hand and was pulling her toward the driveway.
    â€œIt will be all right, Jessica. The next house will be better. You’ll see."
    â€œCan’t I just stay with you?” she pleaded. She didn’t want to get into the car. She didn’t want to meet another family. She wanted to go back inside the house, where it was warm and cozy and smelled like chocolate-chip cookies. She wanted to sleep in the big leather armchair with Mrs. Murphy’s cat, Whiskers, on her lap. “I’ll be good,” she said. “I promise. I won’t be any trouble. You won’t even know I’m there. I can be really quiet."
    Mrs. Murphy stopped and squatted down next to her. She had the warmest brown eyes Jessica had ever seen.
    And crinkly lines around her eyes and her mouth, especially when she smiled. But she wasn’t smiling now. She looked sad, too.
    â€œI’m sorry, honey, but it’s against the rules for me to keep you. It’s my job to find you a good home. The Garrisons are a wonderful family, and they have a few other foster children. You’ll have brothers and sisters and a mother and a father. That’s more than I could give you, sweetie. It won’t be like the last place.” She stroked Jessica’s hair. “I wish I could keep you. But I will always, always be here if you ever have a problem. You have my phone number, and you know my address, right?"
    Jessica slowly nodded, her eyes filling with tears. She wasn’t supposed to cry, but she couldn’t help it. “I’m scared."
    â€œTrust me."
    â€œSarah.” Jake took hold of her arm and gave her a little shake.
    She stared up at him, still lost in the past. “I’m her,” she said.
    â€œWho?"
    â€œJessica.”

Chapter Sixteen

    â€œI was here when I was a little girl. My name was Jessica then.” Sarah swallowed hard at the realization. She waited for her