I stepped into Vivian’s house, sensing the tension that hung in the air like a thick fog. She sat on the edge of the couch, gripping her phone as if it was her last connection to reality. Her fear was palpable, etched across her face in a way I hadn’t seen before. This message had rattled her deeply.
“Vivian,” I said, keeping my voice calm and steady, walking toward her. “Tell me everything.”
She handed me her phone, her hand trembling as she did so. I glanced down at the screen and read the message:
Private Number: If you’re not careful, you’re going to end up like the latest girl they found.
Rachel Ford. I knew what this meant, and the timing of the message was deliberate. Whoever sent it had knowledge they shouldn’t have, and they were trying to get under her skin.
I handed the ph
