Stop Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

exactly make that claim. She’d said, “Do you have Internet service?” and the person on the other end had said, “Yes.” It wasn’t a lie, but it would’ve helped had that person expanded on his answer.
    “Maybe not. So, can I use what you’ve got in the lobby?”
    “Of course. There’s a dedicated line opposite the reception desk. Just plug in and away you go.”
    She imagined herself trying to concentrate amid the activity she’d witnessed last night—and the noise that rumbled through the whole place—and decided she’d get on the Internet in the early morning. “Thank you.” She started toward the stairs, then hesitated. “Do you watch the news every morning?” she asked, turning back.
    “For the most part.” He’d finished the first rack of glasses and was halfway through the second.
    “I was wondering if you’ve heard any reports recently about young girls being abducted.”
    This got his attention. “Why do you want to know?”
    “Someone took my sister a long time ago. I think he might’ve moved here, that he’s still active.”
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    He pursed his lips as he thought it over. Most kidnappings ended within twenty-four hours so they rarely hit the news. But there were instances where the child couldn’t be located—or was found dead.
    “Nothing that I can remember,” he said at length. “Not since the uproar over the Fornier girl, which was…what…four years ago? It was definitely before the hurricane.”
    “The Fornier girl?”
    “You didn’t hear about that?”
    “I’m from California. If it made the national news, it doesn’t sound familiar.”
    “A pervert named Moreau kidnapped her while she was riding her bike. She was only ten.”
    According to estimates provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, 354,100
    children were abducted by a family member each year. Strangers, or nonfamily members, attempted to abduct another 114,600 children but were successful in kidnapping only 3,200 to 4,600. Of those cases, 100 ended in murder. Jasmine could’ve recited the statistics in her sleep. Most victims of nonfamily abductions were average children leading normal lives. Seventy-six percent were girls, with a median age slightly over eleven. In eight percent of the cases, initial contact occurred within a quarter mile of the victim’s home, and in the majority of cases—nearly sixty percent—the abduction was a matter of opportunity. But Jasmine knew that anyone out there looking for an opportunity would eventually find it.
    In any event, it sounded as if this little girl fit the profile. “Was she ever found?”
    “Not before Moreau killed her.”
    Almost half the victims abducted by a stranger were murdered. Of those, the vast majority—seventy-four percent—were dead within three hours. Considering the fact that most parents or caregivers spent two hours searching before notifying police, authorities typically didn’t have much chance of saving the child. “How sad.” He grimaced. “You don’t want to know what he did to that little girl.” No, she didn’t. She could guess easily enough. “The primary motivation in any child-abduction murder is generally sexual assault.”
    “Yeah, well, he did that and more.” Mr. Cabanis straightened. “He’d still be out there, victimizing other children, if it wasn’t for Adele Fornier’s father.” Adele. That personalized the story too much for Jasmine. She pushed the name away, refused to connect emotionally with the poor victim, choosing to focus instead on other, more positive aspects of the story. Like the father’s success. Jasmine had become invisible because of her own father’s complete absorption. At least in this case, Mr. Fornier’s dedication seemed to have made a difference. “What did the little girl’s father do?”
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    “Helped hunt him down. My own daughter was fourteen at the time, so I followed the story pretty closely.”
    “Moreau’s in prison, then?”
    “Nope. Got off on a