Chapter 7 - The Night the Children Disappeared|
Paige was folding laundry in Natalie's apartment when the school called.
“Mrs. Hale? This is the front office at Brookside Elementary. We need to confirm whether Owen and Lucy will be picked up by their father today.”
Paige froze.
“Why?”
“Mr. Hale called this morning and requested an early release. He said there was a family emergency.”
“No one told me.”
The administrator hesitated.
“He provided the correct family password.”
Paige's stomach tightened.
“Please keep the children at school. I'm on my way.”
She called Marcus as she grabbed her coat.
He didn't answer.
Natalie was already reaching for her keys.
“What's happened?”
“He's trying to collect them.”
“Then let's go.”
They reached the school twenty minutes later.
The children were still inside, sitting in the principal's office. Owen looked angry. Lucy looked frightened.
“Mom!”
Paige dropped to her knees as they ran toward her.
“It's okay. I'm here.”
Owen grabbed her sleeve.
“Dad sent two men. They said he was waiting in a car.”
“Did you go with them?”
“No. The principal said she needed to call you.”
Paige held him tightly.
“Good job.”
The principal stood nearby, visibly unsettled.
“One man showed identification indicating he worked for Mr. Hale's company. The other refused to identify himself. I decided to follow our verification policy.”
“Thank you,” Paige said.
Outside, Natalie scanned the parking lot.
A black SUV sat near the far exit.
As soon as Paige noticed it, the driver started the engine.
“Get in the car,” she told the children.
They hurried toward Natalie's minivan.
The SUV pulled away before they reached it.
Paige photographed the license plate.
Her hands were shaking.
She called Rachel Kim.
“Someone tried to collect my children from school without my permission.”
“Did they physically approach them?”
“Yes.”
“Were they identified?”
“One had a company badge. The other wouldn't show identification.”
“Save the photograph. I'm contacting the school and arranging a formal record of the incident.”
Paige lowered her voice.
“Rachel, I think this is connected to the foundation.”
“Why?”
“Because someone sent me a message telling me not to go to the police. And Marcus has been acting as if someone is listening to him.”
Rachel was quiet for a moment.
“Then we stop treating this as a private family dispute. I'll help you document everything and determine the appropriate authorities to contact.”
That afternoon, Paige moved the children to a temporary apartment under Natalie's name. She informed the school in writing that no one could collect them without her explicit approval or a legally verified arrangement.
Then she called Marcus again.
He answered on the second ring.
“Where are the kids?”
“With me.”
“I know you sent people to their school.”
“I didn't.”
“They said they worked for your company.”
“I didn't send them, Paige.”
“Then who did?”
He didn't answer quickly enough.
“You know something,” she said.
“I know the foundation is compromised. I know someone is trying to make you look responsible for the money. And I know that if we don't find the original records, this could destroy both of us.”
“Both of us?”
“Yes.”
“You threw me out of our home. You brought another woman into the hallway where our children keep their shoes. Now someone is trying to take them from school, and you want me to worry about your reputation?”
“No. I want you to understand that the people behind this don't care about our marriage.”
“Then tell me who they are.”
“I can't prove it yet.”
“That's not good enough.”
“Paige, please. I need to see the children.”
She closed her eyes.
“They need to feel safe before they see you. You can arrange a supervised visit through Rachel.”
“I'm their father.”
“Then start acting like someone who understands what that means.”
She ended the call.
Owen stood in the doorway, holding his backpack.
“Is Dad a bad man?”
Paige felt the question strike deeper than anything Marcus had said.
“I don't know what your father has done,” she answered carefully. “But I know that adults can make bad choices, and it's their responsibility to fix them.”
“Will he come get us?”
“No one is taking you anywhere without my permission.”
Lucy appeared behind her brother.
“Can we go home someday?”
Paige pulled both children into her arms.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
She hoped it was true.
That night, Daniel sent a message.
I found the original Lantern registration. The listed administrator is not Marcus Hale.
Paige opened the attached document.
The name beneath the heading made her blood run cold.
May you like
Evelyn Hale.
Marcus's mother had been dead for six years.
