HIS NEIGHBOR WOULDN’T STOP REPORTING THE SOUND OF A GIRL CRYING INSIDE HIS HOUSE—THEN HE HID BENEATH HIS DAUGHTER’S BED AND HEARD HER PLEAD FOR SOMEONE TO SPARE HER

“I lied.”

“I know.”

“I thought about…” Her voice disappeared.

Thomas’s heart stopped.

She did not finish.

She did not need to.

He crossed the room slowly and knelt in front of her.