It was just after sunset when Robert drove along Highway 47, heading home after a long shift. The sky had deepened into a mix of violet and orange, fading behind the mountains.
He sighed and pulled over, assuming it was a simple warning. Maybe a broken taillight, maybe a drifting signal. Nothing out of the ordinary.

He rolled down his window as footsteps approached.
“License and registration, please,” the trooper said. Her voice was calm, professional, and steady—the tone of someone following routine protocol.
Robert’s hands shook slightly as he handed over the documents.
The day had been long, but something about her voice sent a strange jolt through him. She examined the license for a moment, then stepped closer so the patrol car’s headlights illuminated both of them.
The name “Robert McAllister” sat plainly on the card. She glanced at it with no sign of recognition.
But Robert… recognized her.
A Face He Hadn’t Seen Since She Was Two Years Old Continue reading…