Chapter 1
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The dark sky and light rain unite above Michael. But he continues to command his gas pedal to drive on through this misunderstanding at 91 miles per hour: a speed that almost compares to how fast this happened.
“I think that’s him,” a voice from before echoes inside Michael as he imagines being noticed again. Surveilling for clues, he reaches for the radio.
“I repeat ….this is an Amber Alert for Shyrel Tiera in a blue Nissan Sentra headed north on the 21 freeway. A little girl with dark brown hair, hazel green eyes, she’s seven years old! Please call us if you have any information.”
“Seven?” Michael asks his car radio as his daughter laughs. “Shyrel, are you seven?”
“No I turned eight today!”
“That’s what I thought!”
Shyrel smiles while holding her new teddy bear with her bruised arm.
“This is not your fault Shyrel,” Michael says. “You did the right thing by telling me this was happening in your new home, okay?”
“But Mommy told me not to tell you.”
“Well… Mommy should not have done that. Anytime somebody hurts you or your sister, you should tell me. No matter who it is!”
“Okay.”
“And don’t you worry about Kayleen. We’re gonna find a way to get your twin sister, I promise, okay?”
“Okay.”
Entering into traffic, Michael slows down his car and speeds up his heartrate. He reaches for his hat to disguise his daughter and drives on fully aware that no Yield Sign exists for public opinion.