My son disappeared from my parents’ estate on the morning of my bridal shower—and his fifth birthday.

The fluorescent lights of the pediatric ICU buzzed with a sickening, sterile hum. I sat in a plastic chair beside Leo’s bed, my fingers interwoven with his small, pale hand. The rhythmic beeping of his heart monitor was the only thing keeping me anchored to reality. David stood by the window, his jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might shatter.

“Elena,” a voice broke the silence.

I looked up to see Dr. Aris, his expression grim, holding a manila folder. Detective Vance, a seasoned investigator with sharp eyes and a zero-tolerance demeanor, stood right behind him.

“The tox screen came back,” Dr. Aris said, stepping into the room. He didn't look at David; he looked directly at me. “Your father claimed he gave Leo a mild, over-the-counter sleep aid. That was a lie.”

My stomach plummeted. “What was it?”

“A synthetic barbiturate cocktail,” Dr. Aris explained, his voice tight. “Highly regulated. Mostly used in psychiatric facilities for chemical restraint in severe cases. If he had been in that compost bin for another hour, his respiratory system would have completely shut down.”

David slammed his fist against the windowsill. “I’m going to kill him. I’m going to tear Arthur apart.”

“You’re going to let me do my job, David,” Detective Vance intervened, stepping forward. “We’ve already dispatched units to the estate. Your parents are being taken into custody as we speak. But Elena... I need to ask you about what Leo said when he woke up.”

I shivered, remembering the raspy, terrified voice of my five-year-old son. Don’t let this turn into another Toby.

“Toby was my brother,” I whispered, the name feeling foreign on my tongue. “He died when I was eight. At least, that’s what I was told.”

Vance opened a small notebook. “I ran a preliminary background check on your family on the way over here. There is no birth certificate for a Toby. There is no death certificate. According to the state of Connecticut, you are an only child.”