Chapter 97

NINETY-SEVEN

Mazie had screamed so much her throat hurt. She jerked her arm to try to free herself. With her unbound hand, she tore at the rope around her wrist until her fingers bled.

Why had that awful man snatched her? And where were Mama and Ms. Barbara?

Ms. Barbara had hugged her in the night and promised everything would be all right. But now she was gone, too. And what about her mama?

And Taylor and Heidi. She'd heard whispers in town that they'd been killed.

Tears trickled down her cheeks. She was so scared she felt like she was going to pee her pants. She crossed her legs to hold it back.

"Mama, please get better and come find me."

But even as she whispered the words, she was afraid it was too late. That the sickness had taken Mama to heaven just like it had her grandma last year.

That Mama was never coming back.

And that the mean man was going to kill her.