Sarah cleaned the glass doors of the grand sunroom every morning at six o'clock sharp.
She liked the quiet routine of the massive estate on the edge of the city.
The house belonged to Marcus Vance, a wealthy man with broad shoulders and dark tattoos covering his arms.
Most of the staff kept their distance from Marcus because he rarely spoke to anyone.
He managed a large investment firm and spent long hours working behind locked mahogany doors.
Sarah worked hard every single day to support her younger brother, Leo.
Leo was only seventeen and lived in a small apartment across town near his high school.
Their parents had passed away three years ago, leaving Sarah as Leo's sole protector.
She paid his rent, bought his groceries, and saved every extra penny for his upcoming college tuition.
On Tuesday morning, Sarah polished the marble floor near the high front entryway.
The morning sun filtered brightly through the large windows, casting warm light across the clean hall.
Her phone suddenly buzzed inside the pocket of her black and white apron.
She pulled out the device, expecting a quick message from Leo about his breakfast.
Instead, an unfamiliar private number flashed across the glowing screen.
Sarah tapped the green button and lifted the phone to her ear with a soft greeting.
A harsh, raspy voice answered before she could even finish saying hello.
Caller: Is this Sarah Miller?
Sarah: Yes, who is calling me?
Caller: We have your brother's old debt, and time has run out.
Sarah felt her stomach drop into a cold, heavy pit of terror.
Leo had made bad friends the year before, but he swore he had cut all ties with them.
Sarah: He paid everything back months ago!
Caller: He owes interest, little girl, and we want ten thousand dollars right now.
Sarah stepped back until her shoulders bumped against the hallway wall.
Her heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird.
Sarah: Please... stay away from my brother.
She squeezed her eyes shut as tears began to stream down her flushed face.
She covered her mouth with her left hand, trying to muffle her desperate sob.
Her knuckles showed red scrapes from scrub brushes, but right now she barely felt the sting.
Caller: You have one hour, Sarah.
The line went completely quiet as the caller hung up without another word.