“Legally, no,” Marcus said. “If you go near Lily right now, they will charge you with felony interference.”

“She is five years old, Marcus,” I whispered. “She isn’t speaking. They are breaking her.”

“I know,” he said. “But we have to play the long game. You need eyes inside that house before we make our next move.”

I looked over at the black gear bag sitting on the passenger seat.

It contained a high-powered parabolic microphone and an infrared thermal imaging camera.

“I’m setting up on the ridge,” I said.

“Be careful,” Marcus said. “Grant has the local police on speed dial now.”

I cut the feed and turned the key in the ignition, letting the engine idle in the dark.

I drove the SUV up the winding dirt track that overlooked the western face of my estate.

The night air was freezing, and my breath fogged the windshield.

I parked behind a cluster of scrub oaks and killed the headlights.

From this vantage point, the entire back of the house was visible through the bare winter branches.