Chapter 7 - THE PHOTOGRAPHThe next morning, my phone buzzed.
There was a photograph.
Lily.
Sitting inside her classroom.
Coloring.
The image had been taken through the window.
Underneath it were six words:
SHE LOOKS SO PEACEFUL. FOR NOW.
I screamed.
Dad came running.
Minutes later, we were driving toward Lily's school.
Police arrived.
Security surrounded the building.
Lily was safe.
But the photograph changed everything.
Someone had been watching my daughter.
The school cameras showed a woman outside the classroom.
Hat.
Sunglasses.
Phone raised.
Her face hidden.
I knew who it was.
"Diane."
Dad didn't argue.
He simply looked at the officer.
"Find her."
That afternoon, the civil lawsuit was filed.
Criminal charges followed.
Ryan.
Richard.
Diane.
Fraud.
Embezzlement.
Conspiracy.
Assault.
Threats.
By evening, their arrests were national news.
For the first time in months, my house was quiet.
No texts.
No anonymous calls.
No threats.
I thought the nightmare was finally ending.
Then a letter arrived.
May you like
From prison.
From Ryan.
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