Chapter 1: The Face I Never Forgot
My name is Diane, and my son Tyler is nineteen, home from his first year of college, and he'd been telling me for weeks about someone new in his life, someone he was finally ready for me to meet.
I made an effort that Sunday.
I cleaned the house, made a pot roast, and put out the good dishes I usually save for holidays.
I wanted this to go well for him.
The doorbell rang around four, and Tyler practically ran to answer it, grinning in a way I hadn't seen from him in a long time.
He stepped into the kitchen with a young man beside him, introducing him with obvious pride.
The second I saw his face, I froze completely, the serving spoon still in my hand, my whole body suddenly cold.
I don't know how long I stood there before I managed to smile and say something normal-sounding, something about being so glad to finally meet him.
A few minutes later, I told Tyler I wanted to show his boyfriend something downstairs, something I kept in the basement.
Tyler smiled and said he'd be right up after grabbing drinks for everyone.
I led the young man down the stairs, let him step through the basement door first, and then, before he could say anything, I pulled the door shut behind him and turned the key in the lock.
"We're calling the police now," I said through the door, my voice steadier than I felt.
"I'll explain everything."
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What did Diane see in that young man's face that made her act so fast?
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