Neighbors craned for a look, voices rising in disbelief. The family pressed closer to Daniel, relief etched across Claire’s face. But Daniel couldn’t shake the thought: if one prisoner had made it this far, how many others were still digging? And how close had they come to freedom?
The scene outside their home had transformed overnight. News vans lined the street, reporters shouting questions through microphones as floodlights turned the yard into a stage. Daniel shielded his eyes, wishing the ground would swallow him whole. Claire stood on the porch with the boys, keeping them close, their faces pale.