Marionette

The officer pressed play, and the room filled with the chilling conversation between Lea and the kidnapper. The three siblings listened intently, straining to catch any familiar detail in the distorted voice. After a few minutes, the officer rewound the tape and played it again, then once more for good measure.

"Anything?" he asked, looking at their confused and frustrated faces.

Jake's eyes widened as the realization hit him that Lea was in the eye of the storm. He lunged for his phone, frantically dialing Lea's number. "Come on, Lea, pick up," he muttered, pacing back and forth. After several rings, his heart sank as the call went to voicemail. "Her phone's switched off!" he exclaimed, panic setting in. "We need to trace her! She could be in serious danger.She couldn't even stand up properly up in her room. She is driving out there and doing what crazy stuff..." The officer put a hand on Jake's shoulder, trying to calm him. "Listen, I understand you're worried, but we can't trace