Chapter 1 - The Sack in the Garbage Truck
Cal Mercer heard the crying only because he had turned the radio down.
His garbage truck had barely reached the end of the cul-de-sac when a small voice came from somewhere behind him.
“Daddy…”
Cal’s foot hit the brake.
The truck lurched to a stop.
He sat completely still for half a second.
Then he heard it again.
A child.
Cal jumped from the cab and ran around to the rear hopper.
An oversized canvas moving sack lay across a pile of lightweight trash bags.
Something moved inside it.
“Oh, God.”
He climbed onto the stationary platform, pulled the sack away from the other bags, and lowered it carefully onto the sidewalk.
The top had been loosely folded rather than tied.
Cal tore it open.
A tiny girl stared up at him.
She had reddish-brown braids, a freckled face soaked with tears, and a faded pink hoodie.
Cal froze.
“Hey. Hey, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
He lifted her out and wrapped his reflective jacket around her.
She immediately grabbed the front of his vest.
“Please don’t put me back.”
“I won’t.”
Cal looked toward the truck.
A pink backpack remained inside.
Someone had put both the child and her belongings there.
“Who did this?”
The little girl swallowed.
“Nadine.”
“Who’s Nadine?”
“My daddy’s wife.”
Cal crouched so they were eye level.
“Can we call your mom?”
The girl’s mouth trembled.
“My mommy died. I only have my daddy.”
Cal felt something inside him turn cold.
“What’s your name?”
“Piper.”
“And your daddy?”
“Grant Holloway.”
Cal took out his phone.
Piper knew Grant’s number because her father had made her memorize it after she started preschool.
Grant answered on the fourth ring.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Holloway?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Cal Mercer. I work sanitation for the city.”
Cal looked at Piper.
Then back toward the distant house where he had collected the sack.
“Sir, I just found your four-year-old daughter inside a sack on my garbage truck—and she says your wife put her there.”
Nothing came through the phone.
Then Grant breathed in sharply.
“Put Piper on.”
Cal handed her the phone.
“Daddy?”
“Piper.”
Grant’s voice cracked so hard that Cal looked away.
“Daddy, Nadine said you wouldn’t notice I was gone.”
Grant stopped speaking.
Then Cal heard movement.
A door.
Keys.
A car starting.
“Mr. Holloway, where are you?”
“Milwaukee.”
“You’re three hours away.”
“I’m coming.”
“Sir, listen to me. Don’t drive like an idiot. Your daughter is safe.”
Grant exhaled.
“Stay with her.”
“I will.”
Cal expected Grant to ask what happened next.
Instead Grant asked one strange question.
“Was her backpack with her?”
Cal looked toward the truck.
“Yes.”
Another silence.
Longer this time.
“Mr. Holloway?”
Grant finally answered.
“That means Nadine wasn’t trying to scare her.”
Cal looked toward Piper.
“What does it mean?”
May you like
Grant’s voice changed.
“She was trying to make it look like Piper left for good.”
