Amanda sat at the small table, playing with the dolls. Reid was talking to her counselor.
"She has an incredibly high IQ," she said," the only problem is her processing speed. She may take more time to read the story, but she'll get more out of it than any of the other students. I'll suggest that the school give her extra time on tests. She also has a mathematics disability. It's like the numbers get mixed up in her head. I'll also suggest that she receives extra help in math-based lessons."
"Thank you," Reid said.
He looked at the little girl who he and Maeve had created together. They had met once. In secret. They had dinner, at a small diner, and went to a hotel to be a little more intimate. That was the last time he saw her until she died. A few weeks after that, he was visited by a social worker, who informed him that Maeve had a baby, and put it up for adoption. He gladly took in his little girl.
She was always a little slower, than the other kids, but she found ways to compensate for her weaknesses. Now, they had better ways to help her. He went straight to her.
"Hey, sweetie," he said, upbeat," are you ready to go?"
"Did they figure out what's wrong with me?"
Reid got down to her level.
"Sweetheart, there is nothing wrong with you," he said," you're just different. You may never be the fastest runner-"
"But I'm gonna run as fast as I can," she finished.
Reid's phone went off.
"Is that another case?"
"Yeah," Reid said," but, I'll tell you what. If you stay out of trouble, as soon as I get back home, I'll take you out for ice cream."
"Okay, " Amanda said, a little happier.
Reid dropped her off at his neighbor's house. She was an older woman whose granddaughter lived with her.
"Thank you ma'am," Reid said," I don't know what I'd do without you."
"It's fine," she said," I love having Amanda here."
A little girl walked into the room.
"Hi Lily," Amanda said, shyly.
Reid thanked the old woman again, and was on his way.
Amanda followed Lily to her room. Once they were there, Lily cornered her.
"So,"she said,"did they find out what's wrong with you?"
"They found better ways to help me in school," Amanda said quietly.
"That's not what I asked," Lily growled," No one at school likes you. You make everyone around you look stupid."
"I'm trying to do the best I can," Amanda said," My brain just works differently."
"Oh please," Lily scoffed," that's a bunch of bull. You know who else has brains that work differently? Serial killers."
Amanda bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes.
"That's right," Lily said," he said," one day, you could turn into one of the bad guys your dad fights. One day, even he won't like you."
"Shut up," Amanda said," or I'll-I'll-"
"You'll what?"
"I'll tell my dad,"Amanda said, confidently.
"If you tell your dad, then he won't be able to drop you off here anymore," Lily grinned," and then he'll have to quit his job. How many people will die if he's not there?"
"Girls," Lily's grandmother called," dinner's ready!"
"Not a word," Lily whispered.
They went into the kitchen, and sat down for their meal.
They had just gotten started, when they heard a banging on the door. Lily's grandmother picked up a knife from the drawer.
"Lily," she whispered," take Amanda to my bedroom. Go out the fire escape. Stay there, unless someone other than me comes, run as fast as you can. Do you understand?"
Lily nodded, and pulled Amanda into her grandmother's bedroom.
"What's going on?"
"Just follow me," Lily said, seriously.
She ducked out the widow, and ran down the fire escape. Amanda followed. They leaned against the wall, silently. Then, there was a loud bang. Lily's grandmother screamed.
"What do we do?"
"My dad keeps an extra gun in his safe," Amanda said," If I can get inside, maybe I can-"
Her in idea was interrupted by the headlights of a van. Lily tried to run, but Amanda his behind the dumpster, shielded by trash bags. The van stopped right in front o her. The man got out, and grabbed Lily. She screamed, and tried to fight hi, but he was to strong.
Amanda noticed that one of the trash bags had bottles in it. She quickly picked it up, and swung it at the man's head.
"Ow!"
"Lily, run!"
Lily obeyed, and ran in the opposite direction. The man turned around, and grabbed Amanda by the collar. He was wearing a ski mask over his face. He scowled at Amanda, and threw her in the back of his van. He got his in the driver's seat, and sped down the road. Then he stopped. And got out. Amanda heard a scream, then the door opened, and the man threw in Lily, and a canister. It sprayed a sweet smelling gas. Lily fell asleep. Amanda, tried to fight it, but she suddenly felt sleepy. Her eyelids felt heavy, and then the world was black.
