Chapter 2: The Name She Never Said Before
I opened the window like the man told me to.
Cold air rushed in.
My cheek was still burning.
Below, two men in dark jackets were already walking toward the front door.
The police stayed back.
That told me something — these men ranked higher.
I heard Dad open the door before they could knock.
"Who are you?" His voice came out smaller than usual.
"Federal agents.
Where is Sarah?"
A long pause.
Then Mom's voice, shaking but steady — "I'm here."
"Ma'am, are you able to walk?"
"Yes."
I crept to the top of the stairs.
Dad turned and looked up at me.
His face wasn't angry anymore.
It was something worse.
Scared.
"Emily." His voice cracked.
"What did you do?"
One of the agents stepped between us.
"Mr.
Ethan Calloway — you've been under surveillance for eleven months."
Dad went pale.
Mom looked up at me from the bottom of the stairs.
Her lip was bl**ding.
But her eyes were calm.
Almost relieved.
Like she had been waiting for this night for a very long time.
Then the older agent reached into his jacket and pulled out a photograph.
He held it up to Dad's face.
"Do you recognize this man?"
May you like
Dad's knees buckled.
And Mom whispered a name I had never heard before.
