The boy had called the man Dad.
Nothing seemed obviously wrong.
But she remembered the baseball cap.
The red sweatshirt.
And something else.
Noah had asked whether Minnesota Vikings games were shown locally.
That stuck in her mind.
Police traced the rental.
Evan was arrested without a violent confrontation.
Noah was recovered safely.
“When can I see him?”
Ramirez looked at me carefully.
“He’s being evaluated now.”
“I need to go.”
“We’re arranging travel.”
“I’ll drive.”
“Claire.”
“I’ll fly.”
He nodded.
“We’ll help coordinate.”
Then he said something that brought fresh fear.
“There’s something you should be prepared for.”
“What?”
“Noah believes you were planning to take him away from his father.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
“Evan told him that?”
“Yes.”
“He may be confused.”
“Does he want to see me?”
Ramirez hesitated.
That hesitation hurt worse than anything.
“He asked for you.”
I broke.
By that evening, I was on a plane.
