Read Online Vanished by Margaret Daley - Free Book Online

cement floor. She instantly scooted back against the wall that trapped the cold, too. When she brought her pajama-clad legs up, she curled her arms around them and hugged them to her, seeking any warmth she could.
    Where are my clothes?
    I wanna go home.
    Where’s Daddy? Why hasn’t he come to get me?
    Because the bad man had her, locked in a basement where her daddy couldn’t find her.
    Click.
    Ashley tensed, flattening herself against the cold wall. Icy shivers snaked down her spine. An opening slid back. A shaft of light from above flooded her inky surroundings. She blinked at its intrusion.
    Her gaze fixed on the doggy-sized door in the bigger one, she waited for her tray of food to be delivered. When it appeared on the top stair, a dim overhead light flicked on. The opening banged shut.
    Hunger twisted her stomach. Thirst dried her mouth. She only had a little while to eat before the dark returned. She raced across the small room and flew up the stairs to grab the tray. She stuffed the peanut butter sandwich into her mouth and gulped down the lukewarm water. She didn’t want to be on the steps when the light went out like the time before when she was given some food by a stranger.
    With her last bite, she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth as she finished chewing. She studied the small opening and wondered if she could fit through it and escape. She started to investigate it then remembered the dark. Not enough time.
    She hurried down the steps. As the lights blinked off, her feet connected with the ice-cold cement. Blackness engulfed her.
    â€œNo! Don’t! I’ll be good.”
    Tears sprang to her eyes and ran down her cheeks. She wanted to curl into a ball on the floor and pray this was all a bad dream. But the cold from the floor made her teeth chatter. This wasn’t a nightmare. This was real.
    With arms stretched out, she slowly crossed the remaining distance to her cot. Her safe haven. She sat again with her legs pulled up on the bed and brought the scratchy blanket around her to keep the cold at bay.
    â€œPlease, Jesus, help my daddy find me,” she whispered over and over while rocking back and forth.

FOUR
    Day two, 6:30 p.m.: Ashley missing twenty-four hours
    M adison looked up from studying the interviews she’d finally been able to conduct during the afternoon and early evening. The nearly empty sheriff’s station greeted her visual sweep. Rachel worked at her computer while Deputy Nelson stood at the counter, manning the phones, taking care of any other law enforcement business that occurred.
    Madison’s gaze zeroed in on J.T.’s office, the blinds on the large picture window that afforded him a view of the whole work area, open. He cradled his chin in his right hand as his stare drilled into his desktop. Even from this distance halfway across the cavernous room she could see the dark circles ringing his eyes and the tired lines that made him look ten years older.
    The sound of the front door opening drew Madison’s attention reluctantly away from J.T. Emma entered the building with a picnic basket and headed straight for her.
    Madison smiled at the reverend’s wife. “Is that what I think it is?”
    â€œIf you think it’s dinner, then yes. Colin called me and said J.T. isn’t eating. Do you think you can get him to have something? There’s enough for the two of you.” Emma glanced over her shoulder. “And you, too, Derek and Rachel.”
    While Deputy Nelson perked up, straightening away from the counter, Madison shoved her chair back and rose. “I’ll do my best. Most of the others are across the street at the café.”
    Emma flipped the top open. The aromas of warm, freshly baked bread and fried chicken flowed from the basket. “Grace, Kim and I have been busy.”
    â€œKim?”
    â€œYeah, she helped us. It gave her something to do after we finished with the posters and put them up. She