Page 39 of The Vanished

“Mum, what are we really doing here?” Emma demanded once Sam had left, Mia and Alex had found something to watch on TV, and she had followed Quinn into the kitchen. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” Quinn admitted warily as she lowered herself into the nearest chair.

“What do you mean you don’t know? You’re meant to be the adult.”

“And as an adult, I can admit when I don’t know something,” she replied.

“Did something happen to Logan?” Emma asked, her gaze growing fearful.

“That’s a very real possibility.”

“Are we in danger? Is Max?”

“We’ll be safe here.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Emma screeched.

Quinn decided that, if she wasn’t honest with Emma now, her daughter would probably never trust her again. She hated to frighten her, but she also needed an extra pair of eyes, just in case.

“Emma, someone tried to take Max.”

“What do you mean take?”

“A woman pretending to be me showed up at the nursery. She attempted to kidnap Max.”

Quinn had been hesitant to use that word, but whatever she chose to call it that was what it was—a kidnapping attempt.

“Oh my God, Mum. What’s happening?” Emma cried and instantly lowered her voice when her brother’s and sister’s heads snapped up in the other room.

“Emma, please, we need your help,” Quinn whispered.

“What can I do? I am twelve,” Emma reminded her.

“You can remain calm for the sake of the other children. They look to you for guidance.”

“They’re looking to you, Mum,” Emma countered.

“Yes, they are, but if they see that you’re acting normally, they will feel reassured.”

Emma sighed heavily. “All right. But what am I meant to do if I can’t use my phone? That’s what I normally do when I’m around them.”

“Read a book,” Quinn suggested.

“Where am I supposed to get a book?”

“I can ask Dad to pick up a book in town. Is there anything you’d like to read?”

“Can I read The Housemaid?” Emma asked slyly.

Quinn was sure the book wasn’t appropriate for a twelve-year-old but decided she should pick her battles if she intended to get through the next few days with her sanity intact.

“How about I download it on my mobile, so you can listen?”

She didn’t think anyone would be able to trace a download from Audible if she used her cellular data with location tracking turned off.

“Yeah, all right. Better than reading,” Emma agreed. She looked dubious. “You’re going to let me use your phone?”

“Not like there’s anything I can use it for,” Quinn grumbled. “Just promise me you won’t go online.”