Using her elbows, Jessica crawled up the bank, then peered over the berm. She had to force herself to focus in the dim light of dawn. Across the river, the truck parked next to her mom’s car was too far away to make out. She inhaled sharply when the dark outline of a man with a beaming flashlight came around the truck. She inched farther into the bushes alongside the highway and hid.
Her mind was racing. She had to call for help. She removed her cell phone from her pocket. Five messages from her mom. Crap. She must be freaking out. Desperate to get away before the ominous shadow across the river captured her, hand shaking, Jessica called her back.
Crap“Where are you?” her mom shouted down the phone. “I’ve been worried sick. Are you okay? It’s nearly dawn. What have you been doing? I was
