PART 11:

She tried calling. He sent her a voicemail. She sent flowers to his apartment with a note. I’m sorry. Please let me explain properly. The flowers came back. Note attached in Ryan’s handwriting. Don’t contact us again. She threw herself into work. Spent 16 hours a day at the office.

Her employees whispered when she walked by. Everyone knew something was wrong, but nobody dared ask. At night, she’d lie awake thinking about Emma, wondering if the girl was okay. If Ryan had told her the truth or made up some story about Tori having to move away. Sarah tried to help. Maybe give him some space. Let the shock wear off.

He told me not to contact him. He’s hurt. People say things when they’re hurt. He’s right to be hurt. I lied to him for 3 months. You made a mistake. You’re human. But Victoria didn’t feel human. She felt like a monster. like one of those wealthy villains in movies who crushed regular people without thinking.

On the fourth day, Victoria was in a board meeting when her phone buzzed with an emergency alert. She ignored it. Then it buzzed again and again. She excused herself, stepped into the hallway. Seven missed calls from Michelle. Three voicemails. Victoria’s hands went numb. Something was wrong. She called Michelle back.

“Emma’s missing,” Michelle said without preamble. Her voice was tight with panic. She left school 3 hours ago and never made it to her after school program. Ryan’s losing his mind. The police are searching, but they haven’t found her. I don’t know why I’m calling you except where would she go? Victoria interrupted.

Does she have a favorite place? I don’t know. That’s why I called. You spent time with her. Did she ever mention anywhere she liked to go? Victoria’s mind raced. Emma had talked about lots of places. school, the library, her friend Mia’s house, the park near Ryan’s apartment. Then she remembered a conversation from weeks ago.

Emma chattering about a pond she’d discovered. Called it Mirror Lake because it reflected the sky perfectly. She’d made Ryan promise to take her skating there when it froze solid. Mirror Lake, Victoria said. It’s a pond about 2 mi from Ryan’s apartment, east side of town, near the old sawmill. How do you know that? Emma told me about it. She loved that place.

Said it was her secret spot. Michelle was quiet for a beat. I’ll tell Ryan. Thank you. She hung up. Victoria stood in the hallway of her office building, heart pounding. Emma was missing, a 6-year-old girl in December in Aspen where temperatures dropped below freezing at night. She checked her watch. 4:30.

The sun would set in less than an hour. Victoria grabbed her coat and ran. She drove too fast through town, breaking every speed limit. Parked illegally near the trail that led to Mirror Lake. Started running. The trail was icy. Victoria slipped twice, caught herself, kept going. Please let her be there. Please let her be okay.

The pond appeared through the trees. Mirror Lake, small, maybe 50 yards across. The surface was frozen, but not solid. Victoria could see dark patches where the ice was thin and sitting on a fallen log at the edge of the water, knees pulled to her chest, was Emma. Victoria’s knees almost buckled with relief, she approached slowly, didn’t want to startle the girl.

Emma. Emma’s head whipped around. Her face was red from cold and crying. Tori. Hey, sweetheart. What are you doing out here? I wanted to see Mirror Lake one more time. Victoria sat down on the log next to her. Emma was wearing her school clothes. No coat, no hat. She was shivering. You must be freezing. Victoria stripped off her own coat, her real coat this time, warm and expensive, and wrapped it around Emma.

The girl disappeared inside it. How did you find me? Emma asked. You told me about this place, remember? You said it was your favorite spot. I didn’t think you’d remember. I remember everything you tell me. Emma was quiet for a moment. Then dad said you’re not coming back. Victoria’s throat tightened. Did he say why? He said you had to go away.

That you have a different life somewhere else. He said sometimes people can’t stay even when they want to. So Ryan hadn’t told her the truth. He’d protected her. Even furious at Victoria, he’d protected his daughter from the ugliness of the situation. I’m sorry, Victoria said softly. Is it because of me? Emma’s voice broke.

Did I do something wrong? What? No, Emma. No, this has nothing to do with you. Then why are you leaving? I thought you liked us. I do like you. I love you, actually. Then stay. Emma turned to look at her with those serious dark eyes. Just stay. You don’t have to leave. Victoria wanted to explain.

Wanted to tell her the truth. But how do you explain adult complications to a six-year-old? How do you say I lied to your father and broke his trust and now he can’t look at me? It’s complicated, Victoria said finally. That’s what adults always say when they don’t want to tell the truth. Smart kid. Too smart. Your dad is upset with me.

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