My daughter vanished after a fishing trip with her father—one year later, what I discovered inside his tackle box made me go completely still.

fabric slid out.

Mark had always joked about that false bottom.

“Extra-special bait,” he used to say.

It crashed to the floor.

My fingers shook as I unwrapped the cloth.

Inside was Sophie’s pink fishing scarf.

A small wooden sign.

A medical wristband.

And a folded receipt.

Then I saw Sophie’s name on the wristband.

A medical wristband.

“No,” I whispered.

The receipt continue reading …