My four-year-old daughter was lying in the ICU after a horrifying fall when my parents burst into the hospital and shouted, “That bill wasn't paid. What's the hold up?” When I refused, my mother ripped the oxygen mask from my little girl's face and flung it across the room, saying, “Well, she's gone now. You can come with us.” I still hear those alarms in my sleep.

Two uniformed police officers stepped out of the cruiser and walked purposefully up our driveway.

I stood up from the mud, wiping the dirt from my knees while my mind raced frantically.

If we told the police about the ransom demand, my mother would definitely kill Josh.

"Rebecca and Marcus Vance?" the taller officer asked, resting his hand on his radio.

"We are here to escort you to the downtown precinct for an official interview regarding your daughter."

Marcus looked at me with wild, desperate eyes, silently asking what we should do.

I realized this was the exact trap my mother had meticulously set for us.

"We will follow you in our car," I told the officer, trying to keep my voice steady.

"No, ma'am," the officer replied firmly.

"You are going to ride in the back of our cruiser."

He pulled a pair of heavy metal handcuffs from his belt, and the terrifying reality set in.

We were not just going in for a voluntary interview.

The corrupt Child Protective Services worker had already secured a warrant for our arrest.

As the officer reached for my wrist, Marcus suddenly grabbed the metal trash can sitting near the garage.

He hurled it directly at the police cruiser, smashing the heavy plastic against the windshield.

"Run, Becca!" Marcus roared, tackling the taller officer into the muddy grass.

The second officer drew his taser and shouted for everyone to freeze.

I did not hesitate for a single second.

I turned and sprinted through the dark backyard, scrambling wildly over the wooden fence.

I heard the sharp, terrifying crack of the taser deploying behind me, followed by Marcus groaning in pain.

Tears streamed down my face as I landed in the neighbor's yard and kept running blindly into the night.

I had abandoned my husband to the police, but it was the only way to save my daughter and Josh.

I needed a place to hide and formulate a plan before my one-hour deadline expired.

I slipped through the shadows of the suburban streets until I reached the local elementary school.

I broke a small basement window and climbed into the dark, abandoned boiler room to hide.

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed the only person left in the world I could trust.

I called Detective Ramirez, an old high school friend who worked in the major crimes division.

She answered groggily, clearly waking up from a deep sleep.

"Maria, it is Becca," I whispered into the phone, shivering in the cold basement.

"My family framed me for murder, and they are going to drown Josh in a car trunk."

Maria was instantly fully awake, demanding to know exactly where I was.

"I cannot tell you where I am," I cried softly.

"But I need you to quietly trace the GPS signal of Charlotte’s cell phone right now."

Maria typed rapidly on her computer keyboard in the background.

The Billionaire Put On a Waiter’s Apron to Test His Fiancée, but the Wom...

My father bet twenty dollars that I would walk through his front door al...

My Husband Slapped Me Out of His House for His Mistress, Then the Most F...

"Becca," Maria said, her voice dropping to a shocked whisper.

"Charlotte’s phone is currently pinging from inside the hospital intensive care unit."

Chapter 6 - The Trap