FROM THE CONFISCATED JOURNAL
OF DEBORAH PHINNEY:

I only write in this thing when I can't stop my mind from spinning its wheels. Darren calls me this afternoon, screaming at me for not watching Joseph, says that Joseph snuck into the back of the car so he could ride to work with his dad. He thinks that Darren hung the moon, but Darren is so wrapped up in himself he doesn't give Joseph a second's notice. After he realized Joseph was there, Darren told him to wait in the car. He had been called to the scene of some animal attack, trying to find out if any foul play was involved. Some lunatic shop owner was selling chances to look at exotic lizards when they finally attacked a pregnant woman and her little boy. God only knows what kind of poisonous thing he had out there risking everyone's safety. They aren't saying it on the news yet, but Darren said the little boy's face was mostly gone and the mother might not survive the night. I can't imagine it... I just can't.

Now here I am, and I can't help but wonder about those animals and not knowing where Joseph is... It's tearing me apart. Darren called back to ask if I had picked up Joseph, and the terror hit me like a freight train. One of the detectives saw him following footprints into the desert, and now no one knows where he is.

They've found this hole and they heard screaming and they keep telling me not to get upset but all I can think is what if that's my little Joseph down there screaming for his mother?

Please God, please bring back my little Joseph safe. He's just a little boy.