Chapter 8 - THE CHILD THEY TRIED TO TAKE
The attempted abduction happened the following afternoon.
Claire was helping Lucy into her coat when a man approached the rear garden gate.
He wore a maintenance uniform.
He smiled.
“Your mother asked me to take you to the car.”
Lucy frowned.
“My mommy?”
The man nodded.
“She's waiting.”
Lucy looked at him.
Then at the gate.
“What's my bear's name?”
The man blinked.
“What?”
“My bear.”
She held up the stuffed animal.
“What's his name?”
The man hesitated.
Lucy stepped backward.
“You don't know.”
Then she screamed.
Claire heard her.
Security responded immediately.
The man fled but was later identified through surveillance footage from nearby properties.
Adrian arrived minutes later.
Lucy was crying in Claire's arms.
He crouched beside them.
“Lucy.”
She looked at him.
“He didn't know Captain Buttons.”
Adrian swallowed.
“No.”
She hugged the bear tighter.
“I didn't go.”
He nodded.
“You did exactly the right thing.”
Then he looked at Claire.
Her face was white.
And something inside Adrian changed.
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The conspiracy wasn't simply about him anymore.
It had reached a child.
