Someone was creating a record suggesting his daughter was disturbed, difficult, perhaps unmanageable.

Someone wanted her removed from the home.

And someone appeared interested in the property she owned.

His six-year-old was not merely an obstacle standing between adults and an estate.

She was the target.

At that exact moment, Sarah walked out of the kitchen holding a mug, a bright and easy smile on her face.

Chapter 7 — I’ll Call You When I Land

“Well,” Sarah said, warmly, looking down at the two of them.

“Looks like our little girl doesn’t want to let Daddy go.”

Marcus did one of the hardest things he had ever done.

He smiled back.

He stood slowly, kissed Lily on the forehead, and even leaned over to give Sarah a light kiss on the cheek, the ordinary goodbye of an ordinary husband leaving for an ordinary business trip.

“I’ll call you when I land,” he said.