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Lila leans forward and peers down the street while positioning the umbrella over both of our heads

"They’re not there anymore," I explain "But it was a wo about her"

She frowns as she looks back at et in the car so you can explain tohere"

The walk back to the car is painfully slow and quiet By the ti away, and the rain has slowed down

"Who is that?" I ask, pointing at the vehicle

"That was an undercover detective," she says, sla-alone speechme?"

"Well, for starters, ant to dale inforht sessions"

"You could have just asked ly "Every ti, you tell us you’re fine Plus, you tracked down this place"--she nods her head at the house--"all by yourself You searched for your sister’s address for months, and Lyric was the only one you ever told So, how could I possibly know you’d tell us the truth if I asked?"

Okay, she has a point

"We needed to find out where you were going since you won’t ever tell us anything" She tosses the umbrella into the backseat, and then her eyes narrow at ry at the children--but seriously, what the hell were you thinking, coated this place after Sadie was taken," I reine and flip on the wipers "They didn’t find anything suspicious other than the paint on the outside and inside"

"Other than the paint" She gapes at me "Ayden, that paint all over the house ainst your will That’s not a little thing"

"I know" I loseher "But I just wanted to see for htly softens "I understand that you want to knohat’s going on--we all do--but you can’t go around looking for stuff on your own Not after what’s been going on and that note" She trails off, shaking her head

I flop et that I fucked up, but I feel like I’’s going to happen to ain, only this time, they’ll be there to tell me my sister’s been found dead"

She’s quiet for a while, probably trying to figure out what the hell to say to ently places a hand onoff by yourself isn’t going to help You need to let the police do their job and focus on yourself and getting better Talking like this--telling me how you feel--that’s a start I’ve never heard you be so open"