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

“Come on, Lucia. Unless you want us posting the rest online.”

Lucia made a choking sound and let the phone fall onto the bedspread. The recording continued playing while icy dread spread through Thomas’s body.