“That’s the part Nora has never been able to explain completely.”
Elaine told us that Nora had been moved from place to place.
At first, Caleb stayed with her.
Then he disappeared.
Nora had no money.
No phone.
No identification.
And she was terrified that going to the police would somehow lead back to him.
For years, she lived under another name.
She worked wherever she could.
Cleaning rooms.
Washing dishes.
Looking after children.
Eventually, she ended up in another state.
Then another.
She became very good at disappearing.
I covered my mouth.
“Eight years.”
Elaine nodded.
“Yes.”
“All those years, we were looking for her.”
“I know.”
“We were putting up posters.”
“I know.”
“Calling hospitals.”
“I know.”
“Begging people to help us.”
Elaine’s eyes filled with tears.
“Nora saw one of your posters once.”
I froze.
“When?”
“About five years ago.”
My voice barely came out.
“Where?”
“At a bus station.”
Michael sat back down.
“She saw her own face on that poster.”
Elaine continued.
“She told me she stood there for almost ten minutes.”
“Why didn’t she call us?”
“Because she was terrified.”
“Of what?”
“Of going back to the life she had escaped.”
I shook my head.
