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Panic filled Natalie The girl was only four So s could have happened

He glanced around her office as if still hoping to spot the child “I think she overheard o and live with them”

Shock reverberated through Natalie “What? Why would you do that?”

“Because I thought she’d be better off withoutquickly to leave “If you hear from her, call me”

Standing, Natalie nodded “Can I help look for her?”

He paused, his shoulders sagging, and nodded “There are officers on their way to talk to et photos of her, et cetera” His pale eyes lifted, full of pain “Liz told Elaine that Carrie had been talking about taking a trip I think she’s run away because she thinks I don’t want her anymore” His voice broke, then he sucked in a deep breath “The police are checking the airport and bus stations in case she aze “What a to do if I don’t find her?”

Despite everything wrong between them, Natalie couldn’t help herself She walked to the other side of her desk and wrapped her arht “I’m so sorry, Matthew I know they’ll find her soon and you can tell her how much you love and need her”

He nodded, then see for Carrie, and extricated hi to the house”

Natalie would have offered to go with him, but he left her office as quickly as he’d burst into it

Carrie was gone She had possibly run away Had possibly overheard Matthew talking to his sister about letting Carrie live with her family Had she felt the same abandonment Natalie had when she’d been shuffled from one foster home to another?

Walking around to her desk, Natalie closed out her co to acco until Carrie was found The sheer terror she felt at the thought of the girl being on her own couldn’t begin to co

Especially as he was bla himself

She wanted to be with him To coht He’d only come to her, asked if she’d seen the child because he’d been desperate and had thought Carrie ht have reached out to her If only

Natalie pulled her phone froically ring and Carrie be on the other end Nothing happened, of course

Restless, she flipped through her ht her eye