The Last Text Said “If the Little Girl Keeps Looking, We’ll Take Her Too”

was a shoebox.

Inside were candy, a bandage, a photograph of our house, and an old flip phone.

There were messages on the screen.

Many messages.

All from a contact saved as “J.”

James snatched the phone from my hand.

He read one.

Then another.

All the color drained from his face.

“No… that’s not possible…”

I took the phone with shaking hands.

The last message continue reading …