Because the man sitting there was wearing Lily’s sweater!
That was my nickname for her.
It was wrapped around his shoulders.
“Hey!” I shouted.
The man looked up as I grabbed the sleeve and turned the cuff with shaking hands. There I found the nickname!
My voice broke. “Where did you get this? Tell me what happened to my daughter!” I demanded.
The man didn’t pull away. He just studied my face as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Your daughter is alive.”
“Where did you get this?”
“What?” I whispered. My knees almost gave out.
“I know where she is. You need to come with me.”
Before I could even speak, he reached out and grabbed my wrist lightly.
Every alarm in my head went off.
I pulled my hand back. “Not until you tell me how you know my daughter.”
“I’ve seen her,” he said.
“Where?”
“Somewhere you won’t find on your own.”
I stared at him, trying to decide if I was looking at a liar or the first real lead.
“I know where she is.”
“Okay. Take me to her.”
He rubbed his jaw. “Follow me.”
Hope surged in my chest as I grabbed my bags, leaving the apples behind, and followed him.
