My heart pounded as I tried to remain calm for my kids. “How about you two wash your hands while I finish getting everything ready?” I suggested, sending them out of the room. The moment they left, I darted to the backyard, Ravi’s message replaying in my head. With shaky hands, I opened the first trash can—nothing unusual. But when I opened the second one, my blood ran cold. Inside was an old blanket concealing gloves, small tools, and an unlabeled bottle filled with a strange liquid. Panic seized me.
“Mom, are you okay?” Isla’s voice startled me. I quickly closed the lid and forced a smile.
“Everything’s fine, honey. Go inside, I’ll be right there.”
As soon as she was out of sight, I called the sheriff’s office.
“Sheriff’s Department, this is Leona speaking.”
CONTINUE READING NEXT PAGE
