The radio suddenly came alive.

“Officer okay. Suspect barricaded. Child located, conscious.”

Ethan seemed to stop breathing for a second.

“Child located,” he repeated.

Tears gathered in his eyes.

“Is it Lily?”

I wouldn’t give him false certainty.

“We don’t know yet.”

Another minute went by.

Then Daniel appeared from around the building, moving quickly in our direction.

He opened the rear door.

“We found her.”

Ethan immediately moved toward him.

“Is she okay?”

“Yes.”

“Can I see her?”

“Soon.”

Daniel crouched beside the open door.

“She’s weak and dehydrated, but she’s awake. The paramedics are taking care of her.”

Ethan began crying with relief.

I covered my mouth.