“It appears they were afraid for their safety,” Martin replied.
Suddenly, I remembered a gray sedan I’d noticed parked near my house several times.
I immediately reported it.
The police began investigating, and Claire and I strengthened Lily’s safety arrangements. We updated her preschool pickup rules, established an emergency password, and informed the staff about unauthorized visitors.
Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching us.
Two days later, a police officer showed me photographs from a neighbor’s security camera. The gray sedan had been seen near my home on two afternoons.
The license plate gave investigators a lead.
Then, one Wednesday afternoon, my worst fear became reality.
I arrived at Lily’s preschool and noticed a man standing near the entrance.
“Are you the woman who adopted Lily?” he asked.
“Who are you?”
“Victor. Her uncle.”
My hands tightened around my keys.
“I just want to see my niece,” he said.
