"One minute she was here, and then she was just gone."

Miranda was crying hysterically and repeating the ominous words over and over, even though she knew they were not listening. They didn't believe her.

When a child goes missing, it is always the parents in the first line of suspicion. In this case it was the singular parent. Polly's father, Mark, had been killed in Iraq before the little girl was born. He'd only been there three months when his night mission helicopter crashed; killing all on board.

Miranda, in her last trimester and cloaked in grief, had fled to the countryside to take refuge with Mark's parents. Polly's birth and the succeeding months were clouded with confusion and melancholy.

It had taken two years for the postpartum depression to lift. By that time Polly was deeply attached to Mark's mother and pulled away whenever Miranda attempted to hug her or pick her up. It took two more years for Miranda to work up the courage to strike out on her own and become a productive member of society, and a full time parent to her daughter.

Miranda made the decision to return to the city and make a home for herself and Polly. She'd obtained a good job as a legal secretary, which afforded her a decent apartment close to the park, and reliable daycare for Polly. They moved the day after Polly's fourth birthday, against huge protest from Mark's parents, especially his mother, Viola.

"This is the only home Polly has ever known. She will not be happy with strangers taking care of her. She needs me."

Viola's visible anguish over losing her only grandchild tore at Miranda's heart. She was only too aware that for Viola, having Mark's child move away was like losing Mark all over again. Her mother-in-law's grief was palpable and so was Miranda's guilt.

Miranda was also keenly aware that if she didn't stand firm in her resolve to establish herself as the pivotal person in her daughter's life she would be remiss in her parental obligation and Polly would grow up questioning her mother's love for her.

Miranda had called Viola immediately after Polly went missing and both of her in-laws raced to the city to offer support and help to Miranda.

It was not helpful, however, for Miranda to overhear the conversation between Detective Brennan and Viola.

"So, how long did Miranda and Polly live with you before their recent move to the city?"

"Oh my, since before that precious one was born. She was the light of my life, that little love. I did everything I could to make her feel better."

"Why did you have to make her feel better? Was something wrong?"

"Oh dear, no, it's just that Miranda was, well you know, not very close to Polly."

"She wasn't close with her child?"

Detective Brennan's eyebrows shot up with futher unspoken questions.

"Well, I mean, with the depression and all, you know."

Viola clutched nervously at her pearl necklace, fingering each stone as if it were a worry bead.

"No, I don't know. Why don't you come into the other room and tell me."

The detective put his arm around Viola and walked her into the kitchen.

The door closed behind her mother-in-law and the detective, preventing Miranda from hearing the rest of what was said.....

Learn more about this author, Carol Gioia.
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