The woman crouched in front of him.

“You found me. Now tell me.”

The boy reached into his worn jacket and pulled out a folded photograph.

Two young women stood together in it.

Each wore one of the matching pins.

The woman touched the picture with trembling fingers.

“That’s us.”

The boy nodded.

“Mom kept it hidden.”

“Where is she?”

His eyes filled.

“In a room above the old train station.”

The woman’s breath caught.

“Why hasn’t she come home?”

The boy looked down.

“She said someone told her you were the reason she had to disappear.”

The woman froze.

“Who?”

The boy looked toward a black car parked across the street.

A man sat inside, watching them.

The woman recognized him immediately.

Her own husband.

The boy whispered,

“He’s the one who brought me here.”

Her face drained of color.

“Why?”

The boy tightened his fingers around the pin.

“Mom said if he ever found you first…”

He looked at the matching jewel on her coat.

“…he’d make sure the two halves never met again.”