Chapter 1 - THE EMPTY STROLLER
Richard Hale grabbed Sophia Carter by the hair in the middle of the mall lobby.
Not in a parking garage.
Not at home.
At her work desk.
Under bright daylight coming through glass walls while shoppers crossed polished floors around them.
“WHERE’S MY MONEY?!”
Sophia caught his wrist with both hands.
“I DON’T HAVE IT!”
He released her only to snatch the coins from the desk.
Then hurled them.
Coins struck her uniform and scattered across the floor.
“THEN WHERE’S YOUR PAYCHECK?!”
Sophia recoiled.
Crying.
Humiliated.
Richard slammed his hand onto the desk.
“EVERY DOLLAR YOU MAKE IS MINE!”
Sophia’s eyes moved instantly to Emma.
Three years old.
Sitting near the stroller.
Crying.
Sophia stepped toward her.
Richard grabbed Sophia’s arm and yanked her back.
“LET ME GO!”
Then Margaret Carter ran into the lobby.
Sophia’s mother.
Black business suit.
Face already furious.
“GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!”
She crossed the lobby fast and slapped Richard across the face.
He staggered.
Margaret pulled Sophia behind her.
“YOU TOUCH MY DAUGHTER AGAIN—”
Then stopped.
Her eyes snapped toward the stroller.
Empty.
Margaret ran to it.
Checked underneath.
Behind the desk.
Around the chair.
Nothing.
“WHERE’S EMMA?!”
Sophia turned.
Saw the empty seat.
Went pale.
Richard stopped talking.
That was what Margaret noticed first.
Not confusion.
Not panic.
Silence.
She turned toward him.
“WHERE IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER?!”
Richard looked at the floor.
Sophia lunged at him.
“WHERE IS SHE?!”
Mall security arrived.
Richard raised both hands.
“I didn’t take her.”
Sophia screamed:
“THEN WHO DID?”
His phone vibrated.
Once.
He looked at the screen.
Margaret saw his face change.
She snatched the phone before he could stop her.
A message.
EMMA IS SAFE. DON’T LET SOPHIA LEAVE WITH THE PHONE.
Sender:
CLAIRE H.
Sophia stared.
“Who is Claire?”
Richard closed his eyes.
“My sister.”
Sophia froze.
“You told me she moved to Florida.”
“She came back.”
“When?”
Richard did not answer.
Mall security locked down the nearest exits.
Sophia’s entire body shook.
Then another message arrived.
NEED HER SIGNATURE BEFORE 5.
Margaret looked at Richard.
May you like
“What signature?”
For the first time, Richard looked afraid of something other than losing control.
