Chapter 1 - The Window Exploded
The front window exploded before Daniel could answer his son.
Glass sprayed across the living room rug. Emily screamed and pulled three-year-old Noah against her chest. Daniel moved on instinct, throwing himself over both of them as a brick bounced once, rolled beneath the coffee table, and stopped beside Noah's little blue sock.
For one frozen second, nobody breathed.
Then Noah whispered, "Daddy... did the house break?"
"Stay down," Daniel said.
His voice was calm, but his hands were shaking.
A cold September wind pushed through the broken window. The curtains snapped wildly. Somewhere outside, tires squealed against the pavement.
Daniel ran to the front door, opened it, and saw only the taillights of a dark SUV disappearing at the corner.
"Daniel, don't go out there!" Emily shouted.
He stopped on the porch.
He had a wife behind him. A little boy behind him. Chasing a car into the dark would not protect either one.
He went back inside and locked the door.
Noah was staring at the brick.
A piece of white paper had been wrapped around it with black tape.
Daniel picked it up carefully.
Emily watched his face change.
"What does it say?"
He didn't answer.
"Daniel."
He unfolded the paper.
Four words had been written in thick black marker.
SELL THE HOUSE BY FRIDAY.
Emily's mouth went dry.
"This is about the house?"
Daniel looked toward the broken window.
"I think I know who sent it."
Noah tugged Emily's sleeve. "Mommy, are we in trouble?"
Emily crouched in front of him and forced her breathing to slow.
"No, sweetheart. We're together. That's what matters."
Noah looked from her to Daniel.
Only ten minutes earlier, he had been sitting between them on the couch, touching both their faces with his tiny hands.
"You are my best family," he had whispered.
Emily had cried. Daniel had tried not to. Noah had ordered him to cry so they could "all be happy together."
Now the same little boy was standing barefoot among glittering pieces of broken glass.
Daniel called 911.
While they waited, Emily carried Noah into the kitchen and checked his hands and feet three times.
"No cuts," she said.
"I am strong," Noah announced.
Daniel almost smiled.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered without speaking.
A man's voice came through low and familiar.
"You should've sold when I asked."
Daniel's face hardened.
"Marcus?"
The line went dead.
Emily stared at him.
"Your brother?"
Daniel looked at the brick again.
Then at the shattered window.
Then at his son.
May you like
"This isn't about buying the house," he said quietly. "Marcus thinks it belongs to him."
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