The little girl screamed, “Daddy, don’t drink it!”—then knocked the poisoned tea from his hand.

We arrived shortly before sunset.

The cabin sat in a clearing surrounded by dense pine forest. Smoke curled from the stone chimney. One window glowed with warm yellow light.

I killed the engine a half-mile away. We approached on foot, staying low among the trees.

Through the window, we saw Julian. He paced back and forth, phone pressed to his ear, gesturing angrily. But of Lily… there was no sign.

Sarah grabbed my arm. “Look at the ground floor window. The boarded-up opening beneath the sill.”

I looked. Fresh nails. New plywood.

“He built a holding cell,” Sarah whispered. “Down there. Under the floor.”

We circled the cabin. Julian had posted no guards. He had come alone. Believed he was safe.

I signaled Sarah to stay back. She shook her head.

“I am coming with you.”

We moved together.

I kicked the door open.

Julian whirled around, gun in hand. He aimed straight at my chest.

“Stop right there,” he said.

Sarah stepped in beside me. Julian’s eyes widened.

“You,” he breathed. “You should have stayed unconscious.”

“Where is my daughter?” Sarah demanded.

Julian’s smile was thin and desperate. “Safe. For now. Step away from the door. Both of you. Or I shoot.”

“You will not shoot,” I said, stepping forward. “Because you need us alive to sign the documents that release my fortune into your account. Drop the gun, Julian. It is over.”

“It is over when I say it is over!” he shouted. He grabbed a heavy iron poker from the hearth and slammed it against the floor. A hidden trapdoor sprang open. From the darkness beneath… Lily’s voice cried out.