The Secret Behind the Empty Lot

I checked my son’s phone location and found out why he kept disappearing every afternoon.

My son, Ethan, 13 years old, started coming home late.

Every day. Same window. Same answer. “Just hanging out.” Last Friday,

he was two hours late. No texts. No calls. Straight to voicemail.

When he finally came home, his shoes were muddy. His backpack was lighter.

Too light. That night, after he fell asleep, I did something I never do.

I opened his phone. Location history. One pin. Same place. Every day.

An empty lot behind the old grocery store. My stomach dropped. What is my kid doing