章 452: Chapter 452

"There was a little girl, about four years old. Her name was Madeline Sloane. She lived in Manhattan, not far off Central Park West. She was a gifted little girl. Her mother stated that Madeline tested right out of kindergarten and was going to go into the first grade that fall. She was mature for her age as well, verbally astute and well mannered. Everyone always commented on how much older she seemed. Her father, Arthur Sloane, was a high profile defense attorney. He represented many mafia and shady business men, celebrities. Her mother, Hannah, was a writer. A novelist. She also had a column in The NY Times. She had an older brother, too, his name was Henry and one day, in late August, Henry was asked by their mother to take her to a park not far from the house to play for a bit so she could entertain some friends. So, he did. And when they arrived at the park, some of Henry's friends came and asked him to play basketball across the street. Henry, who was only 12 at the time, wasn't the best babysitter, told little Madeline to go play on the playground until he came back to get her. The basketball court was across the street so Henry figured he could keep an eye on her here and there. He watched her walk over to the swings and that was the last time she was seen, by anyone, as Madeline, ever again. He went to check on her after about 20 minutes of playing and she was gone. Vanished."