Dave Krupa

Nancy's phone rang.

The shelter was about an hour away.

Nancy, who hadn't seen her daughter or heard her voice for close to half a year, was too wrought up to drive, so she asked her brother to take her.

Did you rehearse what you'd say when you saw her?

A sheriff's detective met Nancy at the shelter.

He had a photo of Carrie with him.

There's a feeling that comes with realizing you're on a wild goose chase.

Nancy sat down and sent a message to Carrie saying, they came to the shelter to find her, but where was she?

No response.

But not long after, Carrie wrote this post on Facebook.

Almost rational, if a little defensive.

At least it was more like the old Carrie her mom knew.

But then, well, then there were more posts like this one.

Nancy's mind was skittering in every direction like a game of marbles.

What if Carrie's disappearance was not what it seemed to be?

What if she was being held by a kidnapper?

What if somebody stole her identity?

Nancy, she was desperate for answers, asked investigators about that very possibility.

They said they did, but nothing came of it.

And maybe one day soon she'd walk back in the door and explain everything.