Part 52 (1/2)

The officer grabbed his radio. ”Unit two, go ahead.”

”We have a B and E in progress. 217 Brockhurst. Code three.”

”Responding code three.” Officer Beatty looked over the roof of his cruiser. ”I put out an all-points bulletin for Piper. You two could canva.s.s the neighborhood, see if she's at a different house. And don't worry, we'll find her.” He swung into his car and hit the lights and siren.

Tia stared after him. Don't worry? Piper wasn't his only concern. The depleted force was stretched so thin, how could they hope to find her? If Piper had run to the neighbors, she would answer her cell phone. She would have called for help. Or called Miles. Or her. Tia paced.

Think. If not Bob, then who?

Please G.o.d. Why would someone take Piper? Unless it wasn't about Piper but the people who loved her. Without thinking, she gripped Miles by the arm. ”Quick. Come with me.”

With the laptop burning his thighs, Jonah searched Liz/Elizabeth Rainer. In the search he'd run of the criminal database when he first suspected her of the animal mutilations, he had found no arrests or warrants, no juvie record sealed or unsealed. Now it occurred to him there could be something else, an accident or incident that had caused her injury and the emotional instability he'd seen that night looking into her eyes. The chance it had made the news was slim, but he followed his instincts-and found it.

Conjoined twins Lizzie and Lucy Rainer-Controversial separation surgery. He stared at the photo of blond pigtailed girls, one resting her chin on the other's shoulder.

A stone sank down inside him.

He read under his breath, ”From birth, eight-year-old conjoined twins Lizzie and Lucy Rainer have been inseparable. However, Lucy's failing health has driven the controversial decision to separate the twins, even though the girls have expressed no desire to live apart. Doctors say the complicated and risky separation surgery would give Lizzie a strong chance of survival.”

Only Lizzie?

”The twins, who were featured on Good Morning America Good Morning America, are literally joined at the hip, at which point their spines diverge. Lizzie has all major organs while Lucy's incomplete complement are underdeveloped. Her poor health has weakened both twins, and survival of either is unlikely without separation.

”Controversy has spiked over the decision to forfeit one twin to save the other. Dr. Marcus Verigo admits Lucy's chances of surviving separation are remote. 'Lizzie controls her two arms and two of their three legs. Her pulmonary and digestive systems have predominately supported both girls, but her ability to maintain that has reached a critical point. Without the surgery both twins will die,' says Dr. Verigo. Representatives of the family say they will deeply mourn the loss of their daughter Lucy if the surgery proves fatal.”

This had to be behind the animal experiments. Understanding what happened? Finding a way to help other conjoined twins? He read the brief follow-up article.

Conjoined twin Lucy Rainer dies in surgery. Proponents on both sides launch debate on the moral and ethical repercussion ... He skimmed down to the final sentence. He skimmed down to the final sentence. The family asks to be allowed to grieve privately The family asks to be allowed to grieve privately.

Jonah looked at the second photograph, how playful and innocent they were. His first impressions of Liz were that she was strong and confident and compa.s.sionate. He imagined her literally carrying her sister, being strong for both of them-but ultimately not strong enough.

Had they gone into surgery knowing only one would come out? He didn't know which would have been worse, for Liz to know Lucy would die or to lose her unprepared. Certainly Liz was wounded and unstable, but what could it possibly have to do with Piper?

He traced back through all their interactions up to Scout. His chest went cold. If she'd hurt the pup to punish him, what would she do to punish Tia? He shoved the laptop onto the table, reached down, and disconnected his IV.

Thirty-Three.

We were two and had but one heart between us.-FRANcOIS VILLON Two steel surgical tables side by side. Just like when they'd wheeled her, sedated but not yet anesthetized, into the bright room. She had stared at the two tables thinking that for the first time they'd have separate beds. With Lucy's arm wrapped around her chest, her head nestled into her neck, fear had formed a taste on the back of her tongue, a bitter taste like tears held too long.

”Lizzie?” The word came into her mind since Lucy had grown too weak to speak. The word came into her mind since Lucy had grown too weak to speak.

”Don't be scared, Lucy.”

”I wish I were you. You're never scared.”

But she was. When Lucy had gone into the deep sleep the night before the surgery, they had told her, ”Lizzie, the separation could give you a normal life.” And the scary, scary thing was she had wanted it-but only for a moment. Until she remembered she had a special life. They had said so from the start. She and Lucy would always have each other.

”I don't want to be alone, Lizzie.”

”You won't, I promise.”

Someone moaned. Liz shook herself. The horse tranquilizer was wearing off. She hadn't intended it to take Piper through surgery. That would require anesthesia. She dragged the tarp to the nearer table, untied the thin rope threaded through the eyeholes.

Even lame, she was strong, and Piper, though taller, was slight. She looked to the other table where her mutilated sister lay, one leg hanging from a concave torso, so many missing organs. How she had survived so long was a mystery, a miracle. But they'd been miracles from the start.

Unconscious, she had felt no pain, no cutting, no untangling. But she had felt Lucy leave. She had felt the separateness begin.

As Tia drove, Miles hunched beside her, gripping his big knees. Overwhelmed with concern for Piper, he had not reacted to her touch but rushed with her into the Xterra. In a calmer voice than she could have produced, he said, ”If she wanted to hurt her, why did she take her?”

Tia frowned. ”What do you mean?”

”She cut the pup, but she didn't take the pup.”

”She wanted Jonah to bring it to her.”

”She could have cut Piper. But you wouldn't take her to a vet. You would go to a hospital.”

”So you think”-Tia turned too sharply, and the tires squealed-”she wants me to find her?”

”She could have just hurt her, but she didn't.”

Tia tried to put herself in Liz's place. The woman had come to the house and to the store. Both times she'd seen her with Piper. ”What are you doing here?” ”What are you doing here?” And Piper's And Piper's ”I live here.” ”I live here.” Liz must have hoped she would guess, known she would act. Liz must have hoped she would guess, known she would act.

Tia drew a deeper breath than she had yet. ”It does her no good to hurt Piper. If she wanted to lure me-” Or was she the real target? Maybe ... ”It's Jonah she wants. She despises me.”

Miles turned. ”You would call him to help Piper.”

Her knuckles whitened. ”Doesn't she know he's in the hospital?”

Miles shrugged, miserable. ”To help Piper, maybe ...”

”He's been shot, Miles. What can he do?”

”But if you called him, he might help.”

Lord. Groping, she raised her phone, speed-dialed and, when he answered, said, ”Jonah. I think it might be Liz.”

”I think so too.” He sounded winded. ”And pathology could be extreme.”

”What do you mean?”

”She had a sister.”

”Yes, I know. She's ill. Liz buys her scented melts.”