The trap was set. Now I just had to pray the extraction held.

Brooke was left alone on the floor. She’d gathered the pills, but her hand was bleeding from a sliver of glass.

She stared at the empty doorway where my mother had disappeared with her child, utterly defeated.

Through the hidden mic, the voices drifted up from downstairs.

“Paige! Darling, what a wonderful surprise!” Lorraine’s voice was sickly sweet. “We weren’t expecting you! Come look at your beautiful nephew. He’s just a little fussy today.”

“Hi, Mom.” Paige’s voice was steady, though I could hear the razor tension under it. “He looks perfect. I can’t stay long, though — I’m here to steal Brooke for a bit.”