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  He shrugged, but didn’t move.

  She grabbed one of his hands and swiftly bent back his pinky finger until it almost snapped, still whispering harshly. “Get. Off. My. Computer.”

  Red-faced and whimpering, he pulled his hand back and glanced toward Nancy, as if he were about to squeal on her.

  “Say a word and you’re dead, meathead. I know where your room is and I’ve already killed a man.”

  His dull eyes widened and he gasped. “Fine.” He slid off the seat and shambled to the farthest computer from her, nursing his finger and ducking down behind the screen.

  Probably crying, the little douchebag.

  She smiled in self-satisfaction. She was learning the ropes, learning how to manipulate the staff. Why it had taken her so long to focus in on these techniques, she didn’t know. Probably because she was grieving for the babies. But now she was on task.

  Excitement trilled up her spine.

  I’ve got a helluva plan. Now it’s just time to refine it.

  Chapter 39

  Lollie spent the rest of the evening alternately doing a little bit of research on her ancestry and spending time on Google Earth to become familiar with the town of The Hollow and the surrounding landscape near the farm.

  She learned the town streets and could even look at all the storefronts. There was a Wal-Mart, a grocery store, a Sears Extension, a Tractor Central, a CVS, and much more. Most of the stores lined Main Street, where they fit into the historic town’s guidelines. The Wal-Mart and Tractor Central were way off in a plaza by themselves, as if they were poor cousins relegated to the outskirts. She would need to use these places, of course, to keep up her supplies and her ice for the cooler.

  The mountains around the farm were covered with logging trails that had no names. A few public lean-tos were designated for hikers. She’d have to steer clear of them. But there weren’t many notations on the satellite pictures of the actual landmarks or state park road names—if they even had names. And the Street View didn’t extend up into logging trails. So she was pretty much dead in the water now.

  I need more.

  With a furtive glance at Nancy, she spotted her with her head bent over a book in the far corner. She raised a few fingers to wave and smile at her when she looked up. Had she sensed Lollie watching her?

  No. That was crazy.

  “You need me?” Nancy asked in a loud whisper.

  Lollie shook her head and smiled. “No, thanks. Doing great.”

  She saw the kid still ducked down behind his terminal. He hadn’t moved a muscle since he slinked away from her hours before, nursing his swollen finger.

  With a sly chuckle, she realized that the injuries to his hand would prevent him from typing and accomplishing whatever stupid endeavor he had planned on the Internet.

  Good. It served him right for trying to take her computer.

  It was time to find a new place to live.

  She typed in “Houses for rent, Wyoming.”

  Why not? She’d never been there, but hell, it sounded far enough away. And maybe she could buy a nice working ranch where the children could grow up healthy with horses and cows. She’d even get them each their own dog.

  A million hits flooded the screen.

  She clicked on the first one and started to research “remote, country, ranch.”

  Again, so many hits came up she felt dizzy.

  But she continued until she’d narrowed down her search to rentals that appealed to her. She bookmarked a dozen, and sent inquiries to the agents.

  Once she had the rental paid for out of a new account with a fake name—at least for a year—she’d be able to relax. After she got the children back, she’d get in her car and drive.

  Maybe she should get a new car? Something untraceable?

  She didn’t know how to break into a locked car, or hotwire an engine. But maybe she could learn on YouTube. Everything was on YouTube, wasn’t it?

  Two hours later, after watching dozens of videos, she felt she had the basic skills to do what she needed to do. Before she took the children, she’d ditch her own vehicle in the woods, ride her bicycle to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night, find a good van in the parking lot, switch the license plate with another car, and drive the van up into the woods near wherever she was going to camp out.

  She sat back, feeling proud of herself.

  I’m one helluva great planner.

  She smiled to herself.

  Now to get more details on that State Land.

  She went back to the search, looking for local maps. There weren’t too many hits this time, but she found several listings of antique maps made of the area and ordered them to be delivered to her house. She’d be home soon. She was certain of that.

  Thank God her accounts and her PayPal were still working.

  She double checked her bank accounts, and found the joint checking and savings she’d had with Colby were still there, full of his lovely money.

  My money now.

  An image flashed before her, of Colby’s surprised eyes when she pretended to hug him, then pushed him down the stairs. He’d been completely taken off guard.

  And then he’d been dead.

  How had it been so easy?

  She should have done it long ago.

  All those nights of enduring him panting and sweating and laying atop her, they’d all been wasted. She could have given him one year instead of six. She could have been free to do whatever she wanted with the money.

  But that was all hindsight.

  I’ve paid my dues. Now I'm free.

  Someone entered the library and she looked up, quickly hiding the screen. It was Rocco, with Rosita at his side.

  Rosita.

  She’d forgotten about her evening visit.

  While they walked over to speak with Nancy, Lollie quickly went to the tools menu and cleared all of her browsing history except for the genetic research sites. She couldn’t let anyone know she’d been looking for a place in Wyoming or researching illegal car theft techniques. She especially couldn’t let them know she’d been spying on Bittersweet Hollow Morgan Horse Farm and its surroundings.

  There. Done.

  She stood up and waved at Rosita with a smile. This time, it was genuine. She was always glad to see her Rosita.

  I wonder what kind of treat she baked me today.

  Chapter 40

  Rosita approached her employer with basket in hand and gave her a sweet smile. “Hello, Miss Lollie. How are you feeling tonight?”

  “Rosita!” Lollie stood and embraced her. “It’s so good to see you. Pull up a chair.”

  Rosita didn’t react, but had never been greeted like this before. Lollie looked almost normal today, carefully dressed with her hair brushed. She even wore a little makeup. Maybe the doctors here really were going to help her and life could go back to semi-normal? “I baked you scones today, Miss Lollie.”

  “Oh, wonderful!” Lollie reached for the basket and lifted the cloth napkin. “Blueberry?”

  Rosita smiled. “Si.”

  “Nancy! Rocco!” Lollie called. “Come have some blueberry scones.”

  Nancy came trotting around the corner of the stacks with an expectant smile. “Really? Is that what I’m smelling? Oh, they smell divine.”

  Rocco followed her with an apprehensive smile. “You’re going to share today?”

  Lollie trilled a laugh. “Of course I’ll share. Now all we need is coffee, right?”

  Nancy and Rosita laughed. Rocco just stared at her.

  “Well, maybe we should gather over by that big table in the middle of the room so we have room to spread out,” Lollie said, gesturing to the table.

  Rosita noticed a thin young man skulking out the door as they stood and moved toward the table. She guessed he didn’t like scones.

  They settled around the table and Miss Lollie began to hand out the food. Rocco checked his watch, and Rosita figured he had to be careful with his time, because he was just a worker b
ee, like her. Maybe the doctors would let him take a break though, once in a while.

  “Isn’t this nice?” Lollie said, glancing happily around the group.

  The librarian lady, Nancy, seemed to be genuinely happy and gobbled two scones in five minutes.

  Rocco took a few bites, and then rose to follow the young man out the door. “Thank you, Rosita.”

  She nodded and smiled to him. “De nada, Mr. Rocco.”

  Rosita felt encouraged. Today Miss Lollie really seemed as if she were hosting a group of her friends in her living room. Maybe she would truly come home soon. It was all Rosita wanted. She wanted life to go back to something close to normal.

  Although it would never really be normal again, of course, without Mister Colby. She missed him terribly, and still used the back stairway because she couldn’t stand the idea of walking where he’d fallen and died. Except for the few times she’d swept and mopped those awful stairs, she avoided them.

  She missed the children, too. It was hard to think that all that time that she loved and cared for them, their parents were mourning their loss and going crazy looking for them. It still made her feel guilty for loving the babies so very much.

  Her days had been filled with scouring the house from top to bottom. Mister Colby’s clothing still hung in their closet, and she had laundered his shirts as if he were coming home. They were dirty, in the hamper, and of course she couldn’t leave them to molder that way.

  Eventually, she figured Lollie would ask her to pack up the items and donate them to charity. She wondered, should she ask about it so soon?

  Nancy thanked them and went to help another patient, escorting the older woman to the computer bank in the back. Now they were alone.

  “Miss Lollie?”

  “Yes, darling Rosita.” Lollie beamed at her.

  “I miss you at home, Miss Lollie. It’s so lonely. And you seem really good tonight. You feeling better now?”

  “I am. I’m feeling boat loads better. I’ve been researching my ancestors on the computer and it’s going very well. I’m sure they’ll be releasing me soon.”

  “That is good news, Miss.” Rosita’s smile was wide and genuine. “Wonderful news.”

  “I can’t wait to get home, too.” Lollie reached over to squeeze her hand.

  “I have a question, but I’m not sure if it is too soon to ask?” Rosita said.

  “Ask away,” Lollie said, seeming unconcerned.

  “What about the Mister’s clothing?” she said softly. “Do you want me to take care of it before you come home?”

  Lollie stopped smiling. “Oh. You mean…”

  Rosita felt awful. She hadn’t meant to make Miss Lollie sad. “I just wondered if it would be better for you not to have to take care of that when you come back. You know. It will be hard for you.”

  She gave a tremulous smile. “That’s okay. You do it. Just clean it all out and bring it down to the Goodwill.”

  Rosita relaxed. She had been afraid Miss Lollie might get angry or start to cry. But she seemed okay. “Bueno. I will take care of it.”

  Lollie leaned forward and hugged her. Again.

  “You are the best thing that ever came into my life, Rosita. And I mean that.”

  Rosita tried not to frown. This was really unlike Miss Lollie. But maybe she meant it? Maybe being in this awful place gave her a sense of thankfulness for everything and everyone? It would be good if she were sincere.

  “Thank you, Miss Lollie. And I like you, too.” It was all she could figure out to say in return. The best things in her life were her poor Pablo, now deceased, and the beautiful children and grandchildren who had come from their union. She stood, brushed a few crumbs from her lap, and handed Lollie the basket. “I’ll come again tomorrow.”

  Lollie smiled up at her, but this time there was something different in her eyes. A flash of impatience? “Of course you will, dear one. See you then.”

  Rosita shook off the strange sensation and watched Miss Lollie hurry back to the computer station.

  Chapter 41

  “So, Lollie. You’ve come quite a long way in the last few weeks.”

  Lollie smiled sweetly at the doctor who sat, as always, behind his desk looking down at his notepad. “Indeed,” she said.

  “And do we know why that is?” he asked, as if leading her to give an answer he already knew.

  “Yes, we do.” She sat primly for a moment, and then capitulated. “It’s because I finally decided to take my pills.”

  “And you were spitting them out during the first part of your stay here. Is that correct?”

  “That’s right.”

  “And do we think that’s a good idea?”

  “No, Doctor, we think it’s a very bad idea. I mean, look at me now.” She stood, spread two hands out, and twirled in a circle. “I’m perfect now.”

  He suppressed a chuckle. “None of us are perfect, Lollie.”

  She sat again, perching on the chair edge, and then turned to look at him over her shoulder, knowing her hair cascaded down over her shoulders with a healthy sheen, knowing her skin blushed healthy. She flashed him a coy smile. “But just look at me, Doctor.”

  He laughed. “Okay. So you are doing very well, Lollie. I will agree to that. And your appearance does reflect your self-interest in health and sanitation. But it’s your mind we need to address today. And frankly, I do believe you’ve turned a corner in that regard. Your stability is quite notable.”

  “Turned a corner, Doctor?” She batted her eyes at him one more time, then gave up that act and sat down to be serious. “I’m a changed woman. You know that. I’ve come back to myself.”

  He looked up at her and for the first time, seemed speechless. “Um. Yes.”

  “You never knew me before my husband died, before I lost those precious children. But this me is the real me. I lost it for a while, but now I’m whole again. Thanks to you and your staff.”

  “I’m delighted to hear that, Lollie.” He tented his fingers and pursed his lips. “Do you think you’ll feel safe at home? You know it will be a huge step forward to face that house again, where you lost them all.”

  She let out a thoughtful sigh. “Of course it will be difficult. But it’s home, Doctor. In spite of the losses I endured,” she sighed dramatically now, thinking of herself as Scarlett O’Hara, her baby’s namesake, “it’s still home.”

  “I see.”

  “And Rosita will be there. She takes care of me.”

  He looked up as if confused. “Rosita? Is she a nurse?”

  “Oh, Heavens no.” She trilled a laugh. “She’s my cook, maid, and all-around helper. She does everything for me. And she makes me smile.”

  Light dawned in his eyes. “I see. She’s the lady who visits you every afternoon? The one who brings baked goods?”

  “The very same.”

  “Ah.” He scribbled something on his pad. “Well, then. Are you willing to continue your treatment? To come back here biweekly for our sessions?”

  She hesitated, but just for a split second. Did he notice? “Of course I’m willing to do that, Doctor.” She let her smile widen. “You’d all miss me terribly, anyway, wouldn’t you?”

  He actually chuckled. “Lollie, you may be right.” He pushed back in his chair and studied her. “Well then, considering your amazing progress, I am willing to write a favorable report to recommend your release. As I said in the beginning of our session, you’ve come a long way. You should be very proud of yourself.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. I am.”

  Inside she glowed. It was working perfectly. She’d dressed especially nice today to impress him. She’d even had Rosita bring her a pretty white and pink polka dot dress from home that flounced nicely when she moved. Rosita had brought her hair curlers, too, so she could make her hair look extra bouncy. They wouldn’t let her have her curling iron or electric curlers in the room—some silly safety rule—but she’d rolled them into her hair last night and the results had been gre
at. Everyone in The Sea Breeze had complimented her that morning.

  “I’d like to continue my research,” she said, when he’d busied himself on the computer at his side of his desk.

  “What? Oh, yes. Of course. I’ll call Rocco to escort you to the library. I will have your release papers ready for the morning. I’m working on the forms as we speak.” He pressed a button and mumbled into it.

  She stood, feeling like a princess today. “Why, thank you, Doctor.”

  She wanted to lean down and kiss him as a perfect end to the perfect session, but held back. What if he interpreted it to mean she was reverting? That she was coming on to him?

  Although now that she looked closer at the doctor through clearer eyes, she did see that he was pretty good-looking. A vague thought ran through her. Husband number two?

  Her inner voice shook her from such silly thoughts.

  You have children who need you. This man would not help you with that.

  I know. I was just being silly.

  Stupid, is what you were being. It took us forever to get here.

  I know. But he is kind of cute, now that I look at him.

  No more meaningless sex, Lollie.

  I never had meaningless sex. I was married.

  You didn’t mean it.

  So?

  So it was meaningless.

  So what?

  So get to the computer room and do some connecting with that family. It’s the last step.

  I know, I know.

  Rocco knocked and entered, looking at the doctor for instructions.

  “Take Mrs. Belvedere to the library, please, Rocco. She wants to work on her genealogy.”

  “Yes, sir.” Rocco waited by the opened door for her.

  Holding her head high, she dismissed the annoying voice in her head and walked sedately toward him, sliding her arm into his. “Well, my handsome escort is here. Everything’s right in the world, after all. Come, Rocco. Let’s take a stroll.”

  Rocco rolled his eyes, but ended up with a smile on his face. “Yes, Miss Lollie. Whatever you say.”

  Chapter 42

  Lollie sat at her terminal in the library and stared at the Facebook screen. After an hour of searching, she’d found a page someone had made to support the family in Vermont when the children were taken. Friends, neighbors, local church members, and people from around the world had posted and weighed in on the horror of the situation. They’d shared prayers, stories of their own losses and salvation, cute pictures of kittens and puppies and rainbows, and more. Thousands of entries had been posted and even continued after the FBI had come to Maine to steal her babies back. Now the comments had turned to “praise be to God” posts, confirming that all is right in the world. There had been several reposts of news clips giving the status of finding the kidnappers, but nothing had happened in that arena. That Miss Gilly and her son had escaped for good, it seemed. At least for now.