Mrs. Faulkner hands Miss harper the keys to her mini van.
Miss Harper gripped the keys to the minivan tightly as she and the boys climbed in. Mrs. Faulkner had insisted on keeping the Impala in the garage for nowâthere was no sense in making it easier for anyone to track them down. Though reluctant to leave the house, she knew she couldn't keep the boys locked inside forever. They deserved a break from the growing tension that surrounded them.
Tyler and Jordan chattered excitedly in the backseat with Jake and Alex, oblivious to the worry etched onto Miss Harperâs face. As she pulled out of the driveway, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. It was a normal day. Thatâs all this was supposed to be.
They drove to the local park, a spot the boys loved for its wide-open space and towering jungle gym. It was a place that should have felt safe. Miss Harper parked the van and turned to the boys. "Alright, go have fun, but stay where I can see you."
"Yes, Miss Harper!" they chorused before dashing toward the playground.
She leaned against the van, scanning the area. Parents sat on benches, chatting while their children ran about. Everything seemed normal. Still, she couldnât shake the unease gnawing at her. She tugged her jacket tighter around herself, trying to ignore the feeling.
Minutes passed. The boys laughed and played, their energy seemingly endless. Just as she started to relax, a prickle ran down her spine. A feelingâlike someone was watching her. She turned her head slowly, eyes scanning the park.
Thatâs when she saw him.
A man stood near the tree line, too far to be part of the usual park crowd. He wore dark sunglasses, his posture too stiff, too calculated. Miss Harperâs stomach twisted. It was him. The man from the car show. The same suit, the same unsettling presence.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She turned back to the playground. The boys were still there, still safeâfor now. She couldnât panic. She needed to think.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her phone and quickly dialed Mrs. Faulkner.
âMiss Harper? Everything okay?â Mrs. Faulknerâs voice was calm, but Miss Harper could barely focus.
âHeâs here,â she whispered urgently. âThe man from the car show. Heâs watching us.â
Mrs. Faulknerâs tone shifted instantly. âGet the boys. Now.â
Miss Harper swallowed hard and took a step forward. âBoys!â she called out, trying to keep her voice light. âTime to go!â
She ushered them toward the van, keeping one eye on the man. He hadnât moved. Not yet.
A shiver ran through her. That was worse. Much worse.
She called for the boys once again, but Alex wasnât there.
Panic surged through her as she turned to Jake. "Whereâs Alex?"
Jakeâs face went pale. "He had to go to the bathroom. He asked Jordan to go with him."
Miss Harperâs blood turned to ice. She snapped her head toward the tree line. The man was gone.
Without a second thought, she put jake and tyler in the van and locked it. she then bolted toward the parkâs restroom, shoving the door open. Inside, Jordan was on the floor, rubbing his head, looking dazed.
"Jordan!" she cried, kneeling beside him. "Whereâs Alex?!"
Jordan winced, eyes brimming with tears. "Some guy in a suit... he hit me... and took Alex."
Miss Harperâs heart stopped.
Alex was gone.
She helped Jordan to his feet, her hands shaking as she led him back to the van. Her mind was racing. She needed to call the police. She needed to call Mrs. Faulkner. But first, she needed to get everyone to safety.
She threw open the van door, practically shoving Jordan inside. "Buckle up," she ordered, her voice sharp with panic.
Jordan nodded, still clutching his head. Jake and the others stared at her, their faces pale with fear. "Miss Harper, whatâs going on?" Jake asked, his voice small.
She took a deep breath and pulled out her phone, dialing Mrs. Faulkner with trembling fingers.
"Miss Harper?" Mrs. Faulkner answered quickly.
"Alex is gone." The words felt foreign, unreal. "The Man took him."
The silence on the other end was deafening. Then, Mrs. Faulknerâs voice came through, steely and determined. "Iâm calling the police. Get back here now."
Miss Harper didnât need to be told twice. She threw the van into reverse, tires screeching as she tore out of the parking lot.
She had failed to keep Alex safe. But she would get him back.
No matter what it took.
Miss Harper pulled into the driveway, her hands still trembling as she rushed the boys back inside. Mrs. Faulkner was just getting off the phone with the police when she saw the panic on Miss Harperâs face.
"What happened?" Mrs. Faulkner demanded, stepping forward.
Miss Harper couldnât hold her composure any longer. Tears welled up in her eyes as she sobbed, "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Faulkner. I only took my eyes off them for a second when I called you saying I saw him."
Mrs. Faulkner pulled Miss Harper into a tight hug, rubbing her back as she tried to calm her down. "It's alright," she whispered. "We are going to get him back."
Miss Harper clung to her, her breath shaky. "I should have done more... I should haveâ"
"No," Mrs. Faulkner cut her off firmly. "This is not your fault. The police are on it. And we are not going to stop until Alex is home."
Miss Harper nodded weakly, trying to steady herself. She had to be strong. For Alex. For all of them.
There was a knock at the door.
Detective Singer stood there, his expression grim. "I need to know exactly what went down."
Miss Harper and Jordan sat down with him, recounting every detail. Jordan, holding an ice pack to his head, described the man perfectlyâ6'5", medium build, bald, a scar on his right cheek, a tattoo of a throwing star on his left hand. The detail that stood out most, though, was the ring on the man's right hand.
"I felt it when he punched me," Jordan admitted, wincing. Detective Singer asked to see if there was a mark.
Sure enough, just below Jordan's right eye, was an indent in his skinâa perfect imprint of the ring.
Detective Singer's jaw tightened. "We'll find him."
Miss Harper prayed he was right.
Detective Singer stormed back to the station, his face red with anger. He pushed through the doors and bellowed, "Everyone, conference room! Now! We've got a major case!" Officers scrambled to their feet, following him inside as he slammed a file onto the table. "We have a child abduction. We need all hands on deck. Run the description, check all known offenders with similar MOs, and get that police sketch out. We're not letting this bastard slip through the cracks."