HIS NEIGHBOR WOULDN’T STOP REPORTING THE SOUND OF A GIRL CRYING INSIDE HIS HOUSE—THEN HE HID BENEATH HIS DAUGHTER’S BED AND HEARD HER PLEAD FOR SOMEONE TO SPARE HER

The silence that followed was so abrupt Thomas physically felt it. The mattress shifted as she grabbed the device. He heard her inhale sharply before a tiny broken sound escaped her throat.