The same man stood there. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Who are you?” Emily demanded.
“Someone who lost something valuable.”
She recognized his name from whispered rumors—Victor Kane, involved in trafficking children through neighboring counties.
Before he could grab her, she shoved past him and ran. A folded letter slipped from the floor near the door. She snatched it and fled to the church.
Father Daniel read it aloud:
“If anyone finds this, my son’s name is Lucas. Don’t trust Victor. If something happens to me, find my sister Emily in Ashton. She will protect him.”
Emily collapsed to her knees.
That evening Victor kidnapped Lucas and left a note demanding Emily meet him alone at the old river bridge.
Under storm clouds, she walked toward the bridge, fear pounding in her chest.
Victor stood there gripping Lucas’s arm.
“Let him go,” she said, holding up the letter.
“She took him from me once,” Victor hissed. “I won’t let you.”
“She died protecting him,” Emily replied.
A sudden gust tore the letter from her hands. Lucas broke free instinctively. “Run!” she shouted.
Victor slipped on the rain-slick stones just as police sirens wailed—Mr. Howard had alerted authorities.