“Rachel?” I called down the dark stairwell. “It’s Dad. If that’s you, answer me.” For several seconds, there was only silence. Then a light clicked on, and my daughter’s frightened voice answered. At the bottom of the stairs, I found Rachel pale and exhausted, holding little Ethan against her chest. He had a fever but was alive. A camping mattress, bottled water, groceries, and a nightlight surrounded them.

Rachel had been hiding in the basement for two days. She had never gone to the airport as everyone believed. Through tears, she explained that Kevin, her former husband, had been watching the house and planned to take Ethan. She had invented the airport story so he would believe she was leaving, then secretly stayed behind. Suddenly, Dominic called from upstairs, warning that the charcoal pickup was back.