Julia stood at the window of her living room. The pain nearly buckled her knees. Her thoughts came in jagged shards, cutting at her until she bled from the inside out.
Outside, the crush of media had disappeared, leaving behind only the police. One by one, their spinning red and blue lights cut off, returning the night to stark normalcy. No neighbors could be seen any longer, and she wondered if the police had sent them home. A chill ran up her back.
In the glow from their headlights, she could see police officers moving around, returning to their cars. Engines started. Red brake lights flashed. The cars rolled slowly up and down her street. As they moved out of sight, she noticed one kill its lamps. The darkness returned, and with it came a horrible sense of dread.
They were planning something, like a hunter using a snare. As this dawned on her, a hand touched her shoulder.
“Send the text,” Agent Bakhash whispered.
His voice sounded like the hiss of a snake. She cringed, her body tensing.
“Tell him to come home. It’s the only way I can guarantee his safety.”
That’s when she was sure. It was a trap. And she was the bait.
“No!”
Julia wrenched away from him and ran up the stairs, slamming the bedroom door behind her.