“Hon, I’m going to call our lawyer first.”
“Why? Our daughter has just been kidnapped! We need to tell the police, so they can catch him!”
“Because our lawyer can call that Detective Walsh, who may know where the kidnapper hangs out. He caught him once, maybe he can do it again.”
“Okay, Hon, good idea.”

Dad made the phone calls, while Mom made some hot tea. Then we sat around the table and sipped tea. I had tears streaming down my face, Mom kept dabbing her eyes on a napkin and sniffling, and Dad looked very pale and very sad.

“I’m sorry I…” I started, but then my words were overwhelmed in tears.

“It’s not your fault! Don’t you blame yourself, Laney!” Dad came around to hug me. I can’t remember the last time he hugged me. I must have been a lot smaller because I don’t think I’ve ever laid my head on his shoulder before. It felt good. I didn’t know I missed being hugged until I was.

The phone rang and we all jumped. It was just Mr. Crawford saying Detective Walsh was on it.

I exhaled in relief.