Chapter 17 - Natalie’s Van
My sister’s minivan was supposed to be parked in her driveway with Lily’s car seat inside.
I called Natalie.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
My body went cold from the inside out.
“Call local police,” Harper ordered.
We were ninety minutes away.
Those ninety minutes became the longest of my life.
Then Natalie finally called.
“Emma?”
I almost collapsed.
“Where are you?”
“At the grocery store. Why?”
“Where’s Lily?”
“With Mom.”
Our mother lived five minutes away.
“Where’s your van?”
A pause.
“In my driveway.”
Police reached her house before we did.
The van was gone.
Linda had stolen it hours earlier using the spare key Natalie kept in a magnetic box beneath the rear bumper.
She knew about that key because she had once helped Natalie jump the battery after a baby shower meeting.
Every ordinary family detail had become a tool.
But Lily was safe.
That mattered more than the van.
For twenty minutes.
Then my mother called.
“Emma, there’s a woman outside.”
My heart stopped.
“Lock the doors.”
“She’s standing across the street.”
“Mom, take Lily upstairs. Now.”
Police were already moving.
Through the phone I heard my mother breathing hard.
Then a knock sounded at her front door.
Three times.
My mother whispered, “She’s here.”
“Do not open it.”
A woman’s voice came faintly through the door.
“Mrs. Parker? I’m here because Emma asked me to pick up Lily.”
My mother answered, “No.”
The voice changed instantly.
“Open the door.”
My mother backed away.
Then the glass beside the lock cracked.
I screamed into the phone, “Mom, RUN.”
May you like
Sirens exploded through her neighborhood.
And Linda ran too.
