One afternoon, Ethan was playing hide-and-seek around the house. While searching for a hiding place, he slipped behind a large sofa in the library—just as Daniel and Monica walked in to talk.
They had no idea the child was there.
“Daniel, we can’t keep waiting!” Monica whispered sharply. “The loan shark called again. If we don’t pay tomorrow, we’re finished. We need the money from your father’s safe tonight.”
“I know,” Daniel replied quietly, his voice darker than usual. “I already figured out what to do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tonight at dinner, I’ll put sleeping pills in Dad’s soup. A heavy dose. He’ll pass out for hours… maybe longer. Once he’s unconscious, we’ll use his thumbprint to open the safe and make him sign the transfer papers. After that, the money is ours and all our problems disappear.”
Ethan’s eyes widened in horror. He pressed his hands over his mouth to stop himself from gasping.
He wanted to cry, but he was terrified they might hear him.
When his parents finally left the library, the boy ran straight to his grandfather’s room.
Mr. Harrison was sitting by the window reading the newspaper.
“Grandpa…” Ethan whispered, running to him and hugging his leg.