Finding Hannah by John R. Kess Read Free Book Online

Tony.”
    “He doesn’t count. He’s the biggest child I’ve ever met.”
    I laughed.
    “What about Amy? Have you talked to her?”
    I shook my head. “I’ve tried. She won’t talk to me.”
    “How many times have you tried?”
    “Two or three.”
    “Two or three? That’s it?”
    “I haven’t been around her much since the searching began.”
    “Dylan, you need to talk to your sister!”
    I nodded.
    “She’s the only one who has seen this guy. It would be good if she could talk to you.”
    “She won’t talk about him,” I said. “She certainly won’t talk to me about him.”
    “Why not?”
    The forest was quiet as I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t find the words.
    “Why won’t she talk to you?” Molly asked. “You’re her brother.”
    I couldn’t meet Molly’s gaze as I spoke. “That night, when Amy first came downstairs to tell me there was a man upstairs, I hid her in my closet and then searched the house. When I found it empty, I asked Amy how long it had been since Hannah was taken. When she didn’t know, I yelled at her. It was bad. I yelled at her to remember, and she couldn’t. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I left her there. I left her alone as I ran out of the house to search for Hannah.”
    I hung my head and stared at my feet. Amy had refused to look at me since that day, and I wondered if the damage was irreparable.
    “Someday you’ll get your chance to apologize to her,” Molly said.
    I nodded.
    “Amy has been through a lot,” Molly said. “You both have. You’re her big brother and, whether you realize it or not, she needs you.”
    * * *
    When the fire was almost out I covered what little was left with some dirt. I climbed into the tent after Molly changed clothes. Light from my dad’s large flashlight filled the tent as Molly rolled on her side away from me while I changed into sweatpants. Once I was finished, Molly rolled onto her stomach and started writing on a pad of paper.
    “What are you writing?” I asked.
    “I write my dad a letter every night. It’s kind of like a diary.”
    “That’s cool.”
    “It was a tip someone gave me after he died, and I just kept doing it.”
    “So you have a letter for every night?”
    “I’ve never missed one. I have most of them on my laptop. This will do until I get back home.”
    When she finished she said, “Do you want to hear what I wrote?”
    “Sure.”
    “Hi, Dad. Right now I’m in a tent in the middle of nowhere with a boy my own age that I just met today for the first time. I know you wouldn’t approve, but don’t worry, Dad. Dylan and I are on a mission. Plus, I really think you’d like him. We’re searching the central New Hampshire forest for Hannah, the missing girl I told you about. She’s Dylan’s older sister. I know we’ll find her. I love you, Dad! Yours always, Molly.”
    Molly stuffed the notebook into her backpack.
    “Thanks for sharing,” I said. I thought it was cool that Molly had found a way to keep her dad alive through all those letters.
    “You’re welcome. It was a good first day. Good night.”
    I turned off the flashlight. “Good night, Molly.”
    In what seemed like seconds, she was sound asleep. I was jealous of how easy it was for her. I tried to do the same, but the invisible metal band around my head tightened at the thought of Hannah. When I finally did feel sleepy, images of Hannah popped into my head, forcing me awake. I saw Hannah being pulled along through the woods at gunpoint. I stared into the darkness, listening to the crickets chirping and Molly breathing peacefully, wondering what Hannah was going through. I’d fade, only to see her face again. It went on like that for hours before I finally drifted to sleep.

Chapter 4
    Molly and I ate a quick breakfast of dried fruit and trail mix, and then we set off, leaving our tent and most of our gear. Molly was wearing her swimsuit underneath her hiking clothes and made me promise we’d find water today. We were