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(1)AQuestionofRightsUnfortunately,acrimewasabouttobecommittedbutatthemomentLesleywasunawareoftheimpending(即将发生的,迫近的)event,whichwouldaffectherlifesodrastically(极端地,彻底地)forthenexttwoyears.Forthemomentatleast,herholidayatthecottagehadbeenideal.Shehadspendmanyidlehoursrelaxingonthedeck,reading,eatingasandwichwhenshewashungryandintheeveningwatchingtheskyturnfrombrilliantorangetopeachandfinallytopalepurple,eventuallythelightbecomingdim.Itwasaboutthistimethatthemistwouldbegintorisefromthecoolwaterhidinginthedenseforestthathugged(环绕,拥抱)theshoreline.Lateeveningdewglistenedoneverybushandsoontheloon’s(潜鸟)callwouldresoundacrossthewater.Shedecidedtotakeonelastdipinthelake.Asthecoolnightairtouchedherarms,shegavealittleshiveranddecidedinwastimetomoveinside.ThiswastobeherlasteveningaloneasJeff,herformermate,wouldbereturningZactoherearlyinthemorning.Asthecaseinmanymarriagesthesedays,problemshadarisenbetweenLesleyandJeff,buttheydidnotextendtoZac.Hewasagoodkid,justenteringkindergarten.Thecouplehadcometoamutualagreement,asdictatedbythelegalcustody(保管,监管)agreement.ItstatedtheeachparentwouldshareZac’scareeverysecondweekendandthishadbeenherweekendtobealone.Jeffwasanarchitect,whichahighprofilereputation,whoworkedindowntownToronto,apartnerinaprivatecorporationwhichmostlydidconsultantworkfortheuniversity.Lesley’scompanyhadbeenhiredtoadvertisethenewsciencecomplexinordertoraisecorporatemoneyfortheproposedbuilding.Shelikedherworkandsheharboredasecretambitiontomanagerherdivisionofthecompanysomeday.Afterawhirlwindcourtship(求爱,热恋)andafairytaleweddingthecouplehadsettleddowntoandurbanlifestyle.However,afterthreeyearsandonechildthedreamlikemarriagecamesmashingdown.Onedisadvantageofbeingyoungandambitious(有抱负的)wasthatbothofthemneededtodevoteuntoldhourstotheirbusyschedules.Asaresultoftheselatehours,LesleybecamesuspiciousofJeff’safterhoursactivities.Sheaccusedhimofmakeherpartofalovetriangle.Thewholemiserablescenewastosettheproceedingforanuglydivorceinmotion.Daydreamingaboutthoseearlierdayswouldnothelptonight.Sowithashrugofhershouldersshetackledtheadvertisingassignmentsheneededtocomplete.TomorrowwouldbeabusydaywithZacarrivinghome.Thenextday,asthemorningworeon,Lesleybecamemoreandmoreagitated(烦燥),andhermoodbecameapprehensive(忧虑的,不安的)whenJeffdidnotappear.Whennoonhoursarrivedandhestillhadnotappeared,shestartedmakingsomephonecalls.NoneoftheirmutualfriendshadeitherseenortalkedwithJeffthatday.Untiltoday,Jeffhadalwaysbeenverypunctualaboutreturningtheboyattheappointedtime.Lesleyfeltaknotforminginherstomachasacrazythoughtpersistedatthebackofhermind.Shewasabsolutelysuresomethingwaswrong.Jeffsatwithhisheadbowed.Hewasundecidedwhattodo.Thedomesticarrangementwithhisformerwifewasprovingtobeawkward.Hewasfrustratedatbeingabletoseehissononlyonweekendsandfelthewasalwaysmakingconcessiontoaccommodate(适应,迁就)Lesley’sworkschedule.Everymeetingwasturningintoacompetitionfortheboy’saffection.HisonedesirewastotakeZacawayforgood.Theenormousdecisiontoundertakethisplanappearedtobepresentingitself.TodayhewoulddepartforaconferenceinCalifornia.Thisappearedtobemarvelousopportunitytotaketheboyandleavethecountryforgood.Hebetthathecouldpacksufficientbaggageintohisvehicleandthendisappearacrosstheborder,gainingentrytheU.S.AHegavelittlethoughttowhatsoeverofthefactthisactcouldleadtohisconvictionifhewastrackeddownbythecops.Meanwhile,forLesleythenightmarecontinuedtounfoldastherealityofthesituationdeepened.After48hours,thespokesmanforthedistrictpolicedepartmentassuredhertheywouldinvestigateZac’sdisappearance.Herfaiththatjusticewouldberealizedwasfaint.Theshockofthepasttwodays’eventsmadeherrealizethatpossiblyhersonwouldbecomeonemorestatisticinthemissingchildrenfile.Thepolicecompletedapreliminarysurveyafteraskinghundredsofdetailedquestions.Hotlinesprovedfruitless.Meanwhile,overthenextyeartherewerecountlessvisitsandinterviewsatthepolicestationandherhome.ThepoliceappearedtomakingnoprogressintrackingZac’swhereabouts.Asthedayspassed,Lesley’sfrustration(挫败)mountedandshefeltasenseofalarm.Eventually,shedecidedtotaketheinitiativeincontinuingthesearchandshebegantousewell-establishedchildfinagencies.Attimes,boostedbyhopes,sheappearedtobeontherighttrailwithasenseofdisgust,butherhopesweredashedatthefinalmoment.Theseobstaclesonlymadehermoredeterminednottoquitortoabandonhope.AfterZac’spicturewascirculatednationwide,telephonecallsfollowedfromstrangersreportingsightingsofaZaclookalike.Monthbymonthherplanevolvedintoacampaignequaltoafull-scalebattleplan.Shepaidanexceedinglyhighfeeforspecializedhelp,suchastheservicesofanattorney.LesleybecamedeterminedtotargeteverymajorcitywhereJeffnormallycontractedbusiness.Asthemonthsslippedby,Lesley’sexhaustionbecamenoticeableinhereyes.Hercheeksbecamehollowpits.MostdaysshefeltasthoughshedidnothaveanounceofenergyleftbecauseproofofZac’sexistenceseemedimpossibletofind.Anotheryearpassedandherhopesdimmed.Unexpectedly,lateinAugustapromisingleadbroughthertoLosAngeles.Theinteriorofthebarwasdark.HerquesttolocateJeffandZachadtakentwoyears.ShehadpainprivateinvestigatorsinAmericancurrencyto