As he stared at her and her words registered in his brains, a part of him thought he should not get involved.

Something in him said that the girl would only bring in complications which in turn could take danger right at his doorsteps.

He had enemies of his own, enemies who might or might not know he was still alive. He had always been in belief that they knew because it would make him more alert and cautious.

But if he opted to help the girl right across his window, it would not be cautious. It could be disastrous.

“Did you hear me?” she asked, her voice and face in full panic.

“Yes,” he answered and nodded at the same time. “Tell me.”

Her eyes flickered to the street below them, checking for something or someone. Devin knew who.

“I am being held here against my will.”

He nodded. “I already figured that out. But Carl said you are his daughter and that you are crazy.” He had to clear that one up, just to cover everything.

She was shaking her head even before he finished talking. “No, all lies. That had always been his story whenever someone new would come along.”

“Then what happened to you? How are you being held prisoner?”

She closed her eyes for a second. She was about to open her mouth but she closed it again.

“And the most important question is: who are you?”

With that, her eyes went back to look at him through the window grills. “Carl kidnapped me when I was fifteen, ten years ago.”

Devin did not hide his shock. Ten years ago? This girl had been in chains and had been kept prisoner for ten years? Was it even possible? But then, again, it was. He watched the news from weeks ago about three women who had been prisoners for as long as the girl across from his was. One even bore a child.

“And my name is Hope Madden.”

At the mention of the name, Devin took a step back in surprise. How many surprises could this girl have? He very well knew who Hope Madden was but just yesterday, she was declared dead.

“Hope Madden? The one who had been in the news?”

She nodded, her eyes glistening with tears.

“The teenage star?”

“Was is the right word,” she said bitterly.

“Wait, I have to process this for a few minutes…” he uttered, brushing his fingers through his hair.

“We don’t have a lot of time. That’s why I am risking everything I have planned just to tell you. I am desperate. I need your help.”

“I can call the police--” He stopped himself even before she did. Carl worked with the police. “Shit. That’s not a very good idea, is it?”

“No, it is not.”

“I know some people, people more powerful. Maybe they can help.”

“So does Carl. How do you think my DNA ended up in that Barrel Case?”

“But what do you mean you are desperate? Is it because of the news?”

“That and the fact that we are moving out tomorrow to a new place. I don’t think I can hold on much longer. Sooner or later, I’d be escaping and I couldn’t do that in a new place. I can’t spend another year breaking grills.”

“You want to escape now?” he asked, suddenly feeling anxious. Could he help her?

She nodded. “Now. I know this is a lot to ask, but I don’t want to end up like Patty and there’s another child here who is way younger. I don’t want her to suffer the same fate Patty and I did and--”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Devin cut in, holding up her hands to stop her. “Patty? Another child? What do you mean? There’s another one there with you?”

Hope nodded at him, her pale face looking sicker by the second. “There was a girl with me but she’s…” her voice trailed away.

Blood drained from Devin’s face. “He killed her?”

A tear dropped from Hope’s eyes as she closed them and shook her head. “She killed herself.” Her lips closed and a whimper escaped through them. When she opened her eyes, she said, “He did things to us, terrible things. Killing herself was her own way of escape.” Devin didn’t have to ask what things Carl did to the girls. He wasn’t sure if he could take them without grabbing his gun and killing the bastard himself. “But I can’t go the same path as she did because I have a lot of reasons not to.” Devin waited for those reasons. “I want to make sure he ends up rotting in jail, dead is the most satisfying of all.” She looked over her shoulder and added, “And he brought in another one a few days ago. She’s just a child and I can’t let him touch her.”

“Wait, there’s another one,” Devin said.

Hope nodded, stepping closer to the window, her pale hands gripping the iron bars. “She’s just ten and she’s afraid. She might tell him about my plans and I can’t risk that. You have got to help us, please. I’ll do whatever you want after that. I can give you money. I am sure my mother has saved up enough to reward you.”

Devin didn’t care about the money. His mind was already racing on how he could get Hope out of that house. And there was another child. A ten-year-old.

Desperation was on Hope’s face as she watched him think.

He knew how hard it was for her to even speak to him and tell him the truth. He knew what it felt like to live in fear and distrust. Talking to him meant she was desperate. He knew she felt it was her last resort.

Finally, Devin nodded his head. “Okay, I’ll get you out of that house tonight.”

Just as he said that, they heard Carl’s patrol car slowing down toward the house.

He was home.