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When she speaks, her words are clear, her head held high "I don’t know your part in all of this, but my husband says you helped Annie, and for that I a Annie’s eyes She flashessmile "I was happy to do what I could to help But I do have a favor to ask, if I may"
Her eyes sharpen, suspicion present in their depths "I figured as much What is it?"
"My anonymity I couldn’t think of an easy way to return Annie, without leaving her somewhere with people who I’d be unfah tothe police, but if you could keep details about reatly appreciate it"
She waits, her eyes locked on mine, but then finally speaks "That’s it? Anonyrimace, torn "Certain actions I took in the rescue of Annie you ht not appreciate later You will understand ize in advance for any pain that I have caused your family Please know that I, for the most part, acted with Annie’s welfare in mind" I pause "I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable situation or ask you to lie But if there is a way to avoid sharing details of my involvement, I would certainly appreciate it"
The hter, cradled in her husband’s arms "I appreciate your actions in a way that can never be repaid If that is all you ask, I can certainly honor those requests"
I suard, and she is hesitant in returning the gesture Annie interrupts our exchange, ju her hands up and reaching for the kitten I lean down, her arms wrap around my neck "Thank you," she whispers init in her arly
"Sorry I couldn’t say no" I srins in response
"I wouldn’t have been able to either," sheAnnie carry the kitten back to her father, placing it on his lap
"I need to go She is a wonderful child You have done a wonderful job of raising her" I nod at both of the out his hands tohe offers, surprised at the strength in which he grips me
"Thank you," he whispers in hten, running a gentle hand over Annie’s hair, then turn and head back to the truck, open the door and climb in I watch them for a moment, the mother crouched next to the wheelchair, the three of the excitedly Then I put the truck in reverse and back up I a forhen I hear a shout I look up to see the wo to the truck I roll down
"Were you the girl? The one who called the hotline?"
I pause, htens and her eyes close tightly "So, it was Michael? My Michael?"
"Yes But I don’t think he did anything to her She was tied up when I found her Unhar …" her voice falters, and she grips the trucktightly
"If he planned on doing what he discussed with me … that is why I ca the steering wheel tightly "I’ the disbelief and judgth in her eyes, and she meets mine squarely "Honey, I don’t knohat you did to him, and I don’t care Blood doesn’t excuse evil You stopped what needed to be stopped" She nods atback to her fa Annie up onto her hip They turn towardthe highway and heading toward home, if my one room prison can be called that
CHAPTER 57: The end of JessReilly19
Life was never the sauedwhen I sank that knife into Ralph’s neck I felt it fully lift, tangible in its freedo lot I don’t knohether Ralph actually died I like to believe that h to be non-fatal I like to believe that the ah to save his life I calculated thedrive home From the moment of stab until the time that rescue would have arrived was approxiive or take a few A lot of bad can happen in twenty hter with a shalloound could easily hold on for that long
I no longer cam I listed all oftotal of two thousand dollars for about fifty grand worth of stuff A travesty, but one I didn’t dwell on I would have paid to get rid of the stuff, the cleansing act that it was
Mike did forward me an article that was printed in the Statesboro Times It described Annie’s rescue and stated that the police thoroughly searched the trailer, finding a cardboard box that containedwith photos and souvenirs froinal that Mike had cloned With the information found on the laptop, they hoped to solve the cases of thesome closure to their families