My husband cooked dinner, and right after my son and I ate, we collapsed Pretending to be unconscious, I heard him on the phone saying, “It’s done… soon they will both be gone.” – NEXT PART

His voice drifted from the den.

I missed several words, but then I heard him clearly.

“They won’t be a problem after tonight.”

Footsteps came back toward the kitchen.

I shut my eyes.

Daniel stopped beside me. Every muscle in my body wanted to tighten when his fingers closed around my wrist, but I stayed limp as he checked my pulse and lowered my hand carefully back to the floor.

Then he crossed to Noah.

I heard him touch my son’s shoulder.

“This will be easier for everybody,” he said softly.

That almost broke me.

But I didn’t move.

Daniel picked something up from the table and walked away. A moment later, the door to the garage shut.

I opened my eyes.

Noah’s were already open.

I raised one finger to my lips.

“Phones,” he whispered.

Mine was gone. So was his.

Then I noticed my blue dinner plate still sitting on the table with several bites untouched.