I look back at the woman I once was and realize she is still here. I may not have the strength or physical ability I once possessed, but I have promised myself I will change my situation and run free once again.
—The diary of Megan Jean
The group moved to the van with Frank and Alex in the front seats and the women in the back.
“It’s already better that we’re with you,” Mia’s mother said. “There was a chance the two of you could have been stopped. How would you have explained driving alone?”
“Trust me when I say both of us are capable drivers,” Riley said.
“I didn’t say you weren’t,” Mia’s mother said. “But this isn’t Ireland. Two women driving alone will draw a lot of attention.”
“Mia drove from the site of the explosion to your house undetected,” Riley said.
“In a government vehicle with tinted windows,” Corinna said. “Who would stop that thing?”
“Can we stop the arguing?” Mia asked. “We’re together and nothing is going to change that.”
“We should arrive at Grant’s establishment in four hours,” Riley said. “From there we scope out the place, try to determine where Roderick may be stashed.”
“Do we know Grant is there?” Corinna asked.
“It’s likely but not certain,” Riley said. “He might be searching for Mia still.”
“There is no way Grant got approval from the government to track me,” Mia said. “They want me dead and forgotten.”
“I know that for a fact,” Mia’s mother said.
“What do you mean?” Mia asked.
“The day you were declared dead, men showed up at our house,” Mia’s mother said. “They tore through everything. Took every picture, every document, wiped your father’s computer. They told us it was standard procedure in a situation like yours.”
“Did they tell you I ran away?”
“No,” Mia’s mother said. “They reaffirmed that you were kidnapped, and that any attempt to say otherwise would be regarded as treason. I’m surprised they didn’t shoot us on the spot.”
“That would have drawn more questions,” Riley said. “If anyone out there thought Mia ran away and survived, then came looking for her parents, only to find they had disappeared too, it would have created a conspiracy theory.”
“Why not say they died from mourning my death?” Mia asked.
“Because in America parents aren’t supposed to love their children,” Riley said.
“I fooled them though,” Mia’s mother said.
“What do you mean?” Mia asked.
Mia’s mother reached for her bag. She opened it up and stuck her hand inside, feeling around for something before pulling out a small album. She tossed it to Mia.
“I was making it as a wedding gift,” she said. “To show how you’ve grown over the years.”
Mia went to the first page. It was her baby picture, complete with a copy of her documentation on the opposing page. She flipped through the next few photos. They were always only of her. The last one was a copy of her Registry photo and on the opposite page was a copy of her and Grant’s marriage certificate, complete with a picture of the two of them together. Mia had on a long black dress and Grant had on a suit; it was from their meet-and-greet.
“How did you get this?” Mia asked. “I don’t remember posing for a picture.”
“I couldn’t help myself,” Mia’s mother said. “I snapped one of the two of you when you weren’t looking. You can only see your profiles, but you look so happy.”
Mia did. She remembered that meeting and nothing about it had been happy. Then Mia realized she wasn’t looking at Grant; she was gazing behind him. Andrew had been their server that evening.
“I wasn’t even making it for you,” Mia’s mother said. “I thought it would be a nice gift for Grant. I made one for all your sisters’ husbands too.”
“Why did you keep this?” Mia asked.
Mia’s mother reached out and took her hand. “Because I didn’t want to forget you.”
“Are you insane?” Riley asked, breaking the tender moment.
“What?” Mia’s mother asked.
Riley was looking in the rest of the opened bag. She started pulling out stacks of cash.
“I don’t have a clue how much this is,” Riley said. “Tens of thousands of dollars; why would you travel with this?”
“You said grab what we need,” Mia’s mother said. “When I showed up at Corinna’s money seemed to help, so I grabbed some.”
“This is too much,” Riley said. “What were you planning on buying? An airplane?”
“Mia’s father handled the finances,” Mia’s mother said. “This was what I got out of the house before we left. I think even more burned up after.”
Mia’s mother turned back to look at Mia with a face of regret. A shiver went down Mia’s back as she remembered the house fire. Mia didn’t have time to focus on what had passed. She needed to look toward the future and gave her mother a reassuring smile.
“I wish I had pictures of you,” Mia said.
“There’s no need for us to have pictures of each other,” Mia’s mother said. She lifted her hand and pointed it at Mia’s heart. “Because we’ll always live in here.”
Mia’s mother smiled and settled back down. Riley diverted her attention to Frank and Alex, making sure they were on the correct route.
“Tonight, surveillance only,” Riley said. “Then we make our plans.”
“Where are we sleeping?” Corinna asked.
“We hoped to head back to the ranch,” Riley said. “But with Andrew coming in the morning, probably wherever we can find a safe place. I would try to nap now if I were you.”
The group tried to settle in among some of the blankets and pillows Frank had thrown in the back.
“Good job on bringing the money,” Riley said. “If there’s one thing America loves more than its virtues, it’s cash. It might come in handy.”
Mia could tell Laura was smiling and Riley was softening. She clutched the phone in her hand and tried to will herself to sleep.