Dana was missing.

Owen had been locked in a cage.

And Curtis was pretending we had interrupted a family picnic.

An officer told Curtis to remain by the gate.

Curtis demanded to know who had called police, then pointed toward me.

“He’s my wife’s ex-husband.

He has no right to break into our property.”

“Your wife can explain that when we find her,” Detective Ellis answered evenly.

“Where is Dana?”

“She took off Thursday.

Needed time to herself.

She left the boy with me.”

Owen made a small sound against my sleeve.

I looked down and saw him shaking his head.