Mark carried little Owen into the nursery and placed him safely in his wooden crib.
He handed the baby a soft blue blanket to keep him comfortable and quiet.
Once the infant stopped crying, Mark turned his attention back to the hallway.
Eleanor was standing near the bathroom door, wringing her hands repeatedly.
"Who told you I would be gone all day?" Mark asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Your ex-wife mentioned your schedule yesterday afternoon," Eleanor replied quickly.
Mark paused, remembering that he had not spoken to his ex-wife in over a week.
A heavy coat belonged to Eleanor was hanging on a brass hook beside the door.
The side pocket of the beige coat sagged under the weight of an object.
Mark reached into the pocket before Eleanor could step forward to stop him.
His fingers closed around a sleek smartphone, and he pulled it out into the light.
"Give that back to me right now!" Eleanor shouted, reaching for the device.
Mark held the phone high out of her reach and unlocked the main screen.
An unread text message thread was open directly on the bright display screen.
The last message received read: "I got him alone. The next part starts tonight."
A reply directly below it asked: "Did you finish the arrangement yet?"
Mark felt a cold chill run down his spine as he read the words aloud.
"Who sent this to you, Mom?" Mark asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.
Eleanor covered her mouth with both hands, gasping in sheer terror.
"It is not what you think it is, Mark!" she pleaded desperately.
"This message explicitly mentions my son and my home!" Mark yelled back.
He tapped the caller identification details at the top of the chat screen.
The phone number belonged to a local legal firm handling his custody agreement.
Mark realized that a secret plot was unfolding right under his own roof.
His mind raced as he tried to connect the pieces of this dark puzzle.
"Are you selling information about my estate to the opposing legal team?" he asked.
Eleanor lowered her head, refusing to meet her son's fierce gaze.
"They offered to cover my medical debt if I helped them win the case," she whispered.
Mark stepped back, feeling a deep sense of betrayal washing over his chest.
His own mother had compromised his family's safety for a financial settlement.
He clutched the phone tightly in his fist, determined to take legal action immediately.