Chapter 2 - The Intruder
James signaled for me to stay locked inside the heavy vehicle with Emma.
He silently drew his concealed weapon and slipped into the dark house like a shadow.
I sat in the freezing car, my hands shaking violently as I gripped my cell phone.
Every single second felt like an absolute eternity while I waited for him to return.
Ten agonizing minutes later, the front porch light flicked on, and James stepped out holding a small object.
He holstered his weapon and waved for me to safely bring the baby inside.
"The house is completely clear, but someone was definitely here," he said softly, locking the deadbolts behind us.
The living room was untouched, and the expensive electronics were still sitting right on the shelves.
I rushed frantically up the stairs to check Emma's nursery, terrified of what I might find.
The baby's room was perfectly intact, except for a single chilling detail left directly in the center of her crib.
James handed me the small object he had brought out to the porch.
It was an old, faded childhood photograph of Lauren and me playing in the snow.
My face had been violently scratched out with something incredibly sharp.
"This was not just a random burglary," James stated, his jaw clenching tightly.
"Lauren did not have time to beat us home, which means she had someone waiting for us."
My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket, displaying an unknown caller ID.
I answered hesitantly, putting the device on speakerphone so James could hear.
May you like
A deep, mechanically distorted voice echoed from the small speaker.
"You should have let Lauren handle the baby, because now I have to handle you."
