The day was busy from start to end. Just as I thought the work was winding down, Benjamin said the warehouse inventory was done, and we needed a quick meeting.

I hurried to the small conference room. I needed to get back soon and surprise my daughter.

The morning scene hadn't faded from my mind. I was sure my daughter felt the same. Let them look, I stubbornly decided. I wanted to see how they felt.

After all, Ava was a child of the Murphy family.

But to my surprise, the meeting ended abruptly. Before it was over, I received a frantic call from my mother, sobbing and wailing. She said Ava was missing.

This was a nightmare come true. I didn't even bother to wrap up the meeting and rushed out. How could an obedient child like her just vanish?

I descended the stairs, and Carol followed. She took the car keys from my hand, hopped in, and we sped out of the underground parking lot.

We made it back to Amethyst Apartments. From a distance, I saw my mother on her knees, gasping between