Chapter 12 - THE OPEN WINDOW
I screamed Donovan’s name so loudly my throat tore.
Mom came limping into the hall.
“What happened?”
“He’s gone.”
Security locked the property down. Police arrived in minutes. Every camera feed was pulled.
At 1:58 a.m., a figure in dark clothes had crossed the rear garden using the narrow strip beneath the cameras’ old blind zone.
Whoever it was knew the property.
At 2:01, the nursery window opened.
At 2:03, the figure came back carrying Donovan.
My knees buckled.
Then one of the officers zoomed the footage.
The person was too tall to be Bonnie.
Caden.
I called him.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
My fear became something hotter.
Police went to the old house.
Empty.
Bonnie’s SUV was gone.
So was Caden’s truck.
Priya stood beside me in the security room. “Taylor, do not assume they are together.”
“He took my child from his bed.”
“Yes. But we need facts.”
At 2:29, my phone rang.
Caden.
I answered on speaker.
“Where is Donovan?”
His breathing was rough.
“Taylor, listen to me.”
“Where is my son?”
“With me.”
I closed my eyes.
“If you hurt him—”
“I’m not hurting him! Mom said you were going to have me arrested and cut me out completely. She said if I had Donovan, you’d have to talk.”
“You broke into his room.”
“I’m his father.”
“You terrified him.”
In the background, Donovan cried, “Mommy.”
My vision blurred.
“Put him on.”
Caden hesitated.
Then a car door slammed.
Caden shouted, “Mom! What are you doing?”
The call filled with movement.
Bonnie’s voice came through, sharp and furious.
“Give me the phone.”
Caden yelled, “Donovan stays with me!”
A second door slammed.
Then tires screamed.
The call disconnected.
Police traced the last cell tower hit.
Interstate 17 northbound.
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Bonnie was driving toward Prescott.
And Donovan was in the car with her.
