The silence in Falon's study was a physical weight. It had been two days since the photo of Billy, and the air in the entire manor had not shifted. It was the tense, brittle quiet of a world waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was pacing, my phone pressed to my ear, listening to it ring.
"Crown Gate Academy, Headmaster's office, how may I help you?"
"This is Riley Gray," I said, my voice tighter than I intended. "I'm calling to confirm my son, Billy Gray, has been picked up by his designated security team for his after-school coding club."
"One moment, Luna." I could hear the clicking of a keyboard. My heart hammered against my ribs. Every second of silence was a fresh coil of anxiety. Falon watched me from his desk, his expression unreadable.
"Yes, confirmed. He's in room 114 with Mr. Davids. The team signed him in at 3:05 p.m."
