CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN – THE CHASE

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, a flicker of movement appeared on the monitor screen in the living room. A hooded figure, similar to the one Kyle had described, stood on the sidewalk across the street. Kyle, who had been pretending to read in her room, froze. Ethan's voice crackled over a walkie-talkie, alerting the others. Madison exchanged a panicked look with her mother. Veronica, for once, seemed less skeptical and more focused. The hooded figure reached into their pocket and pulled out a small phone. They typed a message and sent it. A moment later, Kyle's phone buzzed. Her hand trembled as she picked it up. Constance, unable to bear the suspense any longer, marched into Kyle's room. "What is it? What does it say?" Kyle's voice shook as she read the message aloud. "Job well done. Phase one complete. Standby for further instructions." A collective breath whooshed out of the room. The message confirmed their suspicions, but it also presented a dilemma. Phase o