Exposure by Brandilyn Collins

Author:Brandilyn Collins [Collins, Brandilyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: General, Suspense, fiction, Women Journalists, Christian, Religious, Alternative History, Paranoia, Fear
ISBN: 9780310276432
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2009-01-01T13:00:00+00:00

THIRTY

“There she is.”

Rich’s voice made Kaycee jump. Her gaze snapped up from the blackened picture.

Mark rose. “You see Hannah?”

“Yeah. I’ll freeze it.” Rich hit a button then pointed toward the bottom left of the screen.

Kaycee dropped her purse on the floor and hurried to Rich as Mark came around his desk. They leaned down and peered at the frozen shot on the monitor. The camera was apparently mounted in the parking lot between the police station and railroad tracks, taking in a diagonal shot up East Main and mostly focused on storefronts across the street. Near the left edge was Rice Street, running parallel to the tracks, and the Rail-Side Museum. At far left ran the railroad tracks, disappearing at a slant into the side of the screen.

Just this side of those tracks in the darkness, faintly lit by a streetlamp’s circle of light, was Hannah.

“Oh.” Kaycee’s pulse skipped.

The nine-year-old had just crossed the tracks on the other side of the street near the museum. One foot posed in front of the other, midstride. She clutched a small suitcase in both hands.

Mark gestured with his chin. “Play it.”

Rich pushed the button and the picture slid into action.

In silent motion Hannah put down the suitcase and pulled it away from the tracks. Her shoulders were hunched, her head swiveling, as if searching the night for ghosts. She looked so small and alone. Kaycee longed to reach into the monitor and pull her out. Tell her everything was going to be okay.

Abruptly Hannah stopped. Her head turned right.

“She’s looking this direction,” Mark said.

Hannah veered left and headed up Rice Street.

Kaycee’s mouth creaked open. “Why would she go that way?”

“The station.” Rich shook his head. “I think she didn’t want to pass by here.”

In tense silence they watched her back as she continued up Rice Street. On her left ran the tracks.

Thirty seconds later she twisted to look behind her. At the edge of the screen red lights began to flash.

“A train’s coming,” Kaycee whispered.

Hannah drew in her shoulders as if she wanted to melt into the pavement. The train shot from the bottom left of the screen and up the tracks. So silent on the film. But at night in the darkness, and so close — the sound must have terrified her.

Hannah slapped her hands over her ears.

The trains passing through Wilmore were long. As this one sped by, car after endless car, Hannah hunched over, ears covered. Finally her small form straightened. The train continued to pass. Hannah grabbed the handle of her suitcase and scurried up Rice Street. They saw her under the light of a street lamp, but the next one wasn’t working. Hannah’s form dimmed.

Fingers pressed to her mouth, Kaycee watched the girl until she faded into blackness.

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