What is it about this story? The benign nature of the tanning salon? The casual event of some man walking in the front door? The front-desk training, Be friendly, smile at the customers?  

What was so haunting?The kindness on her beautiful face? Or was it the closeness of his face right up against the cash machine?

It was 1995. It happened in our suburban backyard. We had just met Melanie Carpenter on the worst day of her life. Images and stories of her were all over the news.

She was beautiful and she was missing, and we couldn't get enough. We prayed to anyone who would listen: Please, please let her be alive!