The storm had already covered the backyard in rain when eight-year-old Sophie wrapped both arms around her little brother Noah.
They were trapped inside a metal dog enclosure near the edge of the property.
Noah was crying.
Sophie tried to stay calm.
Dont worry. Dad will come.
Standing outside the enclosure was Victoria.
She wore a long black raincoat with the hood pulled over her head.
In one hand she held a thick rope.
Victoria looked down at the children.
Stop screaming.
Sophie gripped the metal bars.
Let us out.
Victoria ignored her.
The children had discovered something inside the house earlier that evening.
Something Victoria never expected them to find.
A small phone hidden inside a kitchen drawer.
On it were messages between Victoria and a man Sophie did not recognize.
The messages mentioned Daniels company.
Money.
And a plan that had to be finished before Daniel returned home.
Sophie had tried to call her father.
Victoria caught her.
Now the children were outside in the storm while Victoria tried to decide what to do next.
Then her own phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
DANIEL.
Victoria answered.
Hey.
Across town, Daniel sat inside his truck.
Why are the kids not answering me?
Victoria looked toward the cage.
Theyre asleep.
Daniel glanced at another phone in his hand.
A photo had just arrived from an unknown number.
It showed Sophie and Noah behind metal bars in the rain.
Daniel stopped breathing.
Then he turned the truck around.
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