Free Nightwatch by Valerie Hansen

her body and brain. Toddlers had been known to climb out of cribs and it was possible Megan was an escape artist. That was the most likely scenario. The one she hoped and prayed was right.
    â€œDear Lord, help me,” Jill whispered, continuing to thoroughly search that bedroom, then proceeding down the hall to the next.
    She almost crumpled and fell to her knees when she flung open that door. A small, familiar blanket lay on the floor next to the window—the open window—as if the coverlet had been accidentally dropped in passing.
    Jill knew what she was seeing but her mind refused to draw the necessary conclusions. In a house this old, forcing one of those thickly painted, wooden sashesopen was difficult for a grown-up. Even a much larger child could never have budged it, let alone pushed it as high as it now stood.
    Fear filled her. There was only one conclusion possible. Someone else had been in this room. Someone who didn’t belong. And Megan was gone!
    Panic-stricken, she took a deep breath and let loose with a bloodcurdling shout. “Mitch!”
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    Groggy, Mitch was on his feet before he fully realized what had awakened him. It took him a few more seconds to get his bearings.
    Paul was still sleeping soundly. Tim had dropped the toy soldiers into his lap and was starting to sit up.
    â€œIs it time to go shopping?” the boy mumbled, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
    Just then, Mitch heard a second shout. He hadn’t been dreaming as he’d first thought. That was Jill’s voice. And it was coming from the rear of the house.
    â€œJill!” he shouted, on the move before he was fully awake. “Where are you?”
    â€œIn here!”
    When Mitch entered the hallway and saw her, he understood why her response had sounded muffled. Both hands were pressed over her mouth and she was leaning against a doorjamb as if she were in shock.
    He grasped her shoulders and held tight, forcing her to face him. “What is it? What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
    â€œL-look,” was all she managed to say.
    â€œLook at what? What scared you?”
    â€œI—I never dreamed…”
    Mitch gave her a shake. “Pull yourself together and tell me what’s going on.”
    As he watched her struggle to comply, he was growing more and more anxious. Jill was one of the most sensible, levelheaded women he knew. Anything that could take away her ability to properly communicate had to be deathly serious.
    â€œIs this where you put Megan?” Mitch asked.
    â€œNo. Down there.” Jill pointed with a trembling hand. “In the crib.”
    Mitch left her and raced to the open door of the other bedroom. There was a crib, all right. No one was in it.
    He whirled and shouted, “Where is she?”
    Through Jill’s shuddering gasps he was able to make out one clear phrase. “I don’t know.”
    That chilled Mitch so deeply he could barely think. No wonder Jill was overwrought.
    â€œDid you look everywhere?”
    She raked her long hair back with shaky fingers and grabbed a tissue, clutching it in her fist. “Not yet.” She motioned to him. “Come here.”
    Mitch was beside her in seconds. The more he studied her expression, the more he realized she was not overreacting. She was truly terrified.
    â€œWhy? What have you found?”
    â€œThe—the window,” Jill stammered. “It shouldn’t be open like that. I never leave them open unless I’m airing out the house. And that one really sticks.”
    â€œYou mean somebody else opened it?” His misgivings blossomed into full-blown panic. “You think they took Megan? Is that what you’re trying to say?”
    â€œYes!”
    Part of Mitch’s mind refused to process that conclusion. After all they had already been through, this simply could not be happening. Serenity was a peaceful place, a haven from the kinds of threats found in more populated areas.