My daughter hadn't returned a single text or call for fourteen days. Her husband insisted she was at a remote mindfulness ashram with a strict zero-technology policy.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours. It was one of the fastest verdicts in the county's history for a major felony trial.

The courtroom was packed wall-to-wall when the jury foreperson stood up to read the decision. I held Sarah's hand so tightly my fingers went numb.

"On the charge of kidnapping in the first degree, we find the defendant... Guilty." "On the charge of false imprisonment, we find the defendant... Guilty." "On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, we find the defendant... Guilty." "On the charge of attempted murder in the first degree, we find the defendant... Guilty."

With every word, Mark seemed to shrink physically. The arrogant, wealthy executive who had sneered at me and called me an obsessed mother was now a convicted felon facing life behind bars.

The judge didn't hold back during sentencing.

"Mark Davis, you are a remorseless, calculated predator. You tortured the woman who loved you for financial gain. You attempted to murder the mother who tried to save her. I sentence you to consecutive life terms in the state penitentiary, without the possibility of parole."

As the bailiffs clamped the heavy steel handcuffs over Mark's wrists—real cuffs this time, permanently stripping away his freedom—he turned to look at me one last time.