“You can explain it all on the road,” Diane said, her voice quivering with urgency. Her hands trembled slightly as she stepped closer. “Phia, we’ve found you. Finally, You can come with us now, and we’ll vanish off the grid, just like we planned. No one will ever find us again. We’ve thought this through. You said the vampires didn’t kidnap you, so there’s no reason they should keep you. This is our chance.”

Her words carried a mixture of relief and desperation. Diane closed ...