CHAPTER 5 — The Kidnapping
Emma Reed believed she lived an ordinary life.
She taught teenagers.
Drank too much coffee.
Spent weekends restoring old books.
She had never heard the name...
Ashford.
That changed on a rainy Tuesday.
As she locked the school doors...
A black SUV pulled beside her.
"Emma?"
"We're from the state archives."
"We found information about your parents."
Emma hesitated.
"My parents died years ago."
"We know."
"This concerns your biological family."
Curiosity overcame caution.
She stepped closer.
The van door exploded open.
Hands grabbed her.
A needle pierced her neck.
Everything went black.
Three hours later...
Sophia arrived at Emma's empty home.
The front door stood open.
Furniture overturned.
A coffee mug still warm.
Only one thing remained.
A silver necklace.
Sophia picked it up.
Her own necklace...
The one she'd worn since childhood...
Matched it perfectly.
Two halves.
One broken pendant.
One complete symbol.
The twins had worn matching necklaces since birth.
Sophia whispered,
"I'm too late..."
Then her phone rang.
A distorted voice laughed.
"If you want your sister alive..."
"Bring every piece of your father's evidence."
"No police."
"No FBI."
"No tricks."
"Or tomorrow..."
"You'll bury the daughter your father couldn't save twice."
The call ended.
Sophia looked at the necklace.
Then quietly deleted the FBI's tracking software from her phone.
May you like
She was going alone.
Exactly as Jonathan feared she would.
