Asher's phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Unknown number.
He almost ignored it. Unknown numbers never meant anything good anymore. But something made him reach for it anyway, still half asleep, the morning light barely filtering through the curtains.
A photo.
Kai and Lily walking into school yesterday morning. Daniel three steps behind them. Lily's pink backpack. Kai's blue jacket with the small dinosaur patch on the sleeve that he'd insisted on.
The photo was taken from close.
Asher sat up so fast the room spun.
Another photo loaded.
The twins in the playground during recess. Lily on the climbing frame. Kai sitting cross-legged in the corner drawing something in the dirt with a stick.
Then the message.
"Beautiful children. So innocent. So fragile. You must be so proud of them."
Asher's hands were shaking so badly he almost dropped the phone.
Another message.
