Chapter 184 The Plan Takes Shape

The next few days were a blur of nervous anticipation. Caleb's agreement, while a tremendous relief, also brought with it a fresh wave of anxiety. Now that a plan was in motion, the stakes felt even higher. The loft, which had once felt like a secure cocoon, now felt like a cage, its walls closing in with every passing hour. I meticulously drafted the message, keeping it short and unambiguous. "Jackson is safe—blue patchwork blanket. Small scar, left calf. Seek discreet contact." The details were crucial; they were the proof. They would tell the Sterlings that this wasn't another prank, another false lead, but a genuine message about their child. I folded the small scrap of paper multiple times, tucking it into a plastic baggie for protection before stashing it under a loose floorboard. I would hand it to Caleb only when he was ready to deploy it. The 'dead drop' signal was also prepared. I ventured out carefully, in the dead of night, after ensuring Jackson was deeply asleep. With a c