Page 132 of Gone Tonight

A moment later, she disappears through the hospital doors.

She never even noticed me, which was my intention. I’m used to traveling through life as a ghost. I’m very good at disappearing. Women do it all the time.

It’s much harder to make a man vanish. But we did it, my daughter and me.

I walk back to the Bonneville and climb into the driver’s seat. I have the day off, which means I can spend time wandering around Catherine’s new neighborhood, getting to know it. I like the idea of being able to picture her as she moves about her days. It will help me put new safeguards into place.

For the rest of my life I will continue to watch over Catherine, in ways she knows about and in ways she does not.

Because there is one thing we women do even better than disappearing: We protect our children.

Even if that means protecting my daughter from the darkness inside her.

I reach into my purse for my keys, but my fingers brush the metal spiral of my old notebook.

I pull it out. I need to add one final line.

I would do anything to keep you safe, Catherine, anything at all.