“What is it?” I ask, taking it, opening the flap to see a cell phone inside along with a sheet of paper.

She bites her lip, then looks at the door. “Someone just asked me to give it to you,” she says and slips out before I can ask her another question.

I take out the phone, note the crack across the screen. I push the home button and gasp when I see a picture of Michael and Hazel laughing, Michael with a huge cone of cotton candy in his hand, his tongue blue as he licks it off his chin.

I unfold the scrap of paper. Just a torn sheet of paper. But I recognize the handwriting.

Do you see now what he’s capable of? I can’t get hold of you. He’s got you locked up tight. Ivy, if he finds me, he will kill me, too, and you will never even hear about it.

But I guess you don’t care about that, do you? You’re on his side now. Even after he murdered our father.

Just remember, I did this because you made me do it.

I’m waiting in the parking lot of the Marriott two blocks away with Hazel and her illegitimate brat. Get here in five minutes and I’ll let them go. Come alone. No Santiago. No soldiers. Or else Michael will learn how a real gun works.

Want proof I have them? I'm sure he’s made me out to be a liar. Hazel’s passcode is 3636. We took some family selfies.

Abel.

Hazel and Michael? I haven’t talked to them since… well, it’s been maybe four or five days, I realize. I tried to call a few times since Santiago told me about Dad but haven’t gotten through, and I’ve been so depressed I didn’t stop to think about it. I realize now Michael hasn’t called me in several days either.

Santiago is protecting them. He told me he’s protecting them.

My hands trembling, I punch in the code Abel gave me on the phone that I know is Hazel’s and when I click on the camera icon, there they are. The family selfies.

I have to take hold of the counter to keep from dropping to my knees. Terror fills me as I scroll through photo after photo of Hazel and Michael sitting in the backseat of a car. Hazel’s eyes are red and she’s clutching Michael to her. His face is buried in her chest. It’s the last one that’s the worst. Abel’s face looms in the foreground of this one and I almost don’t recognize him for the grin on his face. He’s in the front seat of the car and my sister and Michael are in the back and in the corner of the selfie I see the gun.