Meanwhile, witnesses had told police that after the kidnapping Anderson’s truck had headed north. In that direction, they deduced, the most likely place he would have taken her was a remote wood near the Anderson family farm

与此同时，警察得到各种线索，表明绑架发生后，安德森的货车驶向了北方。据此方向，他们推断，他劫持劳娜最有可能去的地方，就是安德森家农场附近的一片偏僻的树林。

An eight-man search team began its grim chore on Tuesday morning. Walking side by side, they made ever-widening circles — and kept watch for vultures. They were also alert for tracks of coyotes and foxes that might lead to the body. It was hard, discouraging work, but the men refused to rest. As darkness fell, however, there was still no sign of Laura.

星期二早晨，一支八人组成的搜索队开始了不屈不挠的苦苦搜寻。他们拉网式并行，使搜索的范围尽量达到最大——还不断观望天空是否有秃鹫飞行，不放过地上土狼和狐狸的任何踪迹，因为这些动物都能引导他们找到劳娜的尸体。拉网式搜索是一项艰苦费力、枯燥乏味的工作，但是八位队员没人停下来休息。然而，夜幕降临，仍没有劳娜的踪影。

 

When the search team arrived back at the county sheriff’s office in Ponca, they were met by a police forensic expert. “He’s ready to confess,” the man said.

搜索队回到县警长在庞喀的办公室，见到一位警方法律专家。“他愿意招供了，”这位法律专家告诉他们说。

Anderson’s lawyer and the Dixon County Attorney reached a tentative deal. In exchange for leading searchers to Laura’s body, Anderson would plead guilty to second-degree murder. That carried a lighter sentence — ten years to life — than the mandatory life-without-parole he would receive if convicted of kidnapping.

安德森的律师与狄克逊县检察官达成一个初步协议，由安德森带路，帮助搜索人员找到劳娜的尸体，交换条件是，安德森的量刑定为二级谋杀罪。二级谋杀罪只能判处十年有期徒刑——比强制实行的不准假释的终身监禁——量刑就要轻得多。如果被确认为绑架罪，他就得判终身监禁。

Laura’s parents, Mary and David Kucera, arrived soon after the investigators. Ashen-faced, they leaned on each other for strength while the district attorney told them about the possible plea bargain. Under the agreement, he cautioned, Anderson could be back on the street after serving just five years — half the minimum term. If Anderson was going to pay fully for his crimes, the D.A. had to refuse the deal.

劳娜的父母大卫·库希拉和玛丽，在这些办案人员之后不久就到了。当地区检察官告诉他们可能达成的交易时，他们面如土灰，相互靠着对方，才有力气撑下去。按照这个协议，地区检察官提醒道，安德森只要服刑满五年——最短刑期的一半，就可以回家，又会出现在大街上。如果要按罪来定安德森的刑，地区检察官就拒签这项协议。

David choked back tears. “Take the deal,” he said. “I just want my little girl back.” Mary agreed.

大卫强忍泪水。“那就签吧，”他说。“我只想要我的乖女儿快回家，”玛丽也只好答应说。