27

Giselle woke up early and went for a brisk walk around the lake to clear her head, try to cast off some of her guilt into the water, and do some yoga on the grass. It was a beautifully sunny day, with a gentle breeze and crisp air.

She wished her mood matched the weather. But whenever she passed an area where she and Melissa had spent time, she teared up and started to cry. If anything happened to that sweet little girl, Giselle knew she would never get over it.

How does someone go on from there?

She bought a coffee at Starbucks on Lakeshore Avenue, then walked over to the LifeScreen offices several blocks away.

Giselle took the elevator to the third floor, then stepped up to Dr. Ellis’s office. She was about to knock when she heard a voice behind her.

“Can I help you?”

She turned to see Angelo Lira.

“Giselle,” Lira said. “You need something?”

“Yes. I—I need to talk with Dr. Ellis.”

Lira chuckled—but it was not a friendly laugh. “He’s a very busy man.” Lira took Giselle by the shoulders, turned her gently, and led her away from the door. “What can I help you with?”

She stopped and eyed Lira carefully. “It’s—I want to talk to him. I need to talk to him. It’s important.”

Lira gestured with his head, getting her to walk again, away from Ellis’s office. “Tomorrow might be better.”

Giselle stopped again. “It can’t wait.”

Lira’s eyes narrowed. “What’s so important? Is it about Melissa?”

Her gaze darted around the hallway. “It’s—yes.”

“I’ll relay the message. And if it’s anything that’ll help us find her, I’m the one you need to talk to anyway. I’m the liaison on the search.”

She shifted her feet.

Lira glanced at his watch. “I’ve got a meeting in a couple of minutes. What’s the problem? Remember something about the woman—Amy—that you’d like to share?”

“No, I’m … no. I don’t remember anything. I just have to give him some … information.”

“Go ahead. Just tell me.”

“I’d rather not.”

LIRA EXAMINED HER FACE. He grinned slightly, trying to appear nonthreatening. But his thoughts were moving in a different direction. This woman was now a liability. They had no idea what she was going to do—or say—and to whom she might say it.

“I’m glad you found me, actually,” Lira said, feigning a disarming grin. “The Ellises asked me to get you a plane ticket back home.”

“Home?”

“To Germany.”

The young woman’s face dropped faster than a steel hammer. “I—I do not want to go back to Germany. I want to stay. Here. And—and the Ellises still need me. When they find Melissa—”

Lira laughed. But it was devoid of humor, a fact he did not attempt to hide. “Do you really think they’re going to trust you again with their daughter? You let her be taken—by a stranger.”

“I—I am sorry. I did not …” Her voice trailed off and she seemed to shrink into herself.

“Go home and pack. I’ll tell Dr. Ellis you came by and that you’ve gone home to gather your things. I’ll have the ticket and confirmation number emailed to you. My driver will take you to the airport.”

Giselle stared at him, disbelief etched into her face.

Lira checked his watch again. “Oh. What was it you wanted to tell us about Melissa?”

Her eyes darted left and right. “Just—just that Amy, the woman who took her, she cared about her. I don’t think she would hurt her.”

Lira studied her face. He did not think she was being truthful with him. There was something else she wanted to say. “We’re way past that. We know a lot about her and what her intentions were. She’s a troubled individual, a history of mental illness. Tried to kill herself. But the good news is that we’ve made a lot of headway in locating her.”

Giselle’s eyes widened. “You have?”

He patted her on the back. “Don’t worry about Melissa. We’ve got it covered.”

The woman should have looked relieved, but the hope immediately dropped from her expression. She was not buying what he was selling.

“Trust me, Giselle.” He placed a hand on her left shoulder as he started walking again, guiding her toward the elevator. “We want the best for Melissa. And despite what I said about the Ellises being angry with you about what happened, they’re relieved we’re making progress in the investigation.” He stopped by the polished stainless steel doors and pressed the down button.

“Now—go home and get ready. My driver will be at the house to pick you up three hours before departure.”