ed demands. He started to cry, real tears stream

't you want someone to save me? You're

ey would have worked. This time, they only sharpened my focus. A nine-year-old boy, even a compassionate one

him. They had poisoned my own son against me, turning him into a

sudden agreement. I knelt down to look him in the eye. "It is wrong to just stand by and watch

th shock. The tears st

're the one who wants to be a hero. Go on. T

no longer a theoretical problem but a very real threat. He was just a child, after all. A chil

a kid," he whimpered.

up. "And the grown-up has

phone, one Mark had given him "for emergencies." His little thumbs moved frantically across the screen. He was making a call. I didn't have t

save her!" He paused, listening. Then the most damning words tumbled

st

tongue. In my past life, I had never known they were related until

his trembling hand. He was too shock

ster'?" Mark' s voice was tight with panic. He was

y voice as cold as the g

eath on the other end of the l

he stammered, his attempt at nonchalance pathetic. "Wha

y. "Ethan just told me he has a sister drowning i

e proof I needed. It wasn't just him and Lisa. They had drawn my son into their