Chapter 4 - BELOW THE HOUSE
Officer Grant moved first.
“What did you say?”
Emmie's voice was barely audible.
“Another kid.”
Vivian immediately shouted, “She's lying!”
Officer Grant turned toward her.
“Quiet.”
“You're listening to a child who's been hysterical all afternoon.”
Grant stepped closer.
“I said quiet.”
Vivian stopped.
Carla helped move Emmie onto the stretcher.
Ethan stayed beside her.
“Who's downstairs?”
Emmie shook her head.
“I don't know his name.”
“A boy?”
She nodded.
“How old?”
“Maybe six.”
Ethan felt sick.
Officer Grant and his partner approached the basement door.
Vivian moved in front of it.
“You need a warrant.”
Grant stared at her.
“We have a report of a potentially endangered child inside this residence.”
“You can't just—”
Grant opened the door.
Vivian grabbed his arm.
His partner immediately pulled her back.
“Ma'am, do not touch the officer.”
Vivian started yelling.
“There is nobody down there!”
Grant switched on the basement light.
The stairs were narrow.
At the bottom stood rows of storage shelves, laundry machines, and old furniture.
“Police department!”
No answer.
Ethan stayed upstairs because Carla was already wheeling Emmie toward the front door.
Then they heard it.
Three knocks.
Soft.
Pause.
Three more.
Grant descended.
His partner followed.
Vivian's face went white.
Ethan saw it.
“You know who's down there.”
Vivian shook her head.
“You know.”
“No.”
The officers disappeared below.
Thirty seconds later, Grant shouted.
“Call another ambulance!”
Vivian sagged against the wall.
Ethan looked at her.
“What did you do?”
She whispered, “This wasn't supposed to happen.”
“What wasn't?”
Before she could answer, Grant reappeared carrying a small boy wrapped in a blanket.
The child was conscious but frightened, with an adhesive bandage on one arm.
“Found him behind a locked storage door.”
The second officer held up a key ring.
Vivian whispered something.
Ethan couldn't hear.
“What?”
She closed her eyes.
“I was helping them.”
“Them?”
Vivian opened her eyes again.
But now her fear looked different.
Not fear of police.
Fear of someone else.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who is ‘them’?”
Vivian looked toward the windows.
“Get Emmie out of here.”
“We are.”
“No.”
Her voice sharpened.
“I mean now.”
Officer Grant grabbed Vivian's wrist.
“Vivian Mercer, I'm placing you in investigative detention.”
She suddenly fought him.
“Listen to me! You need to leave!”
Grant secured one wrist.
“You have the right to remain—”
Vivian screamed at Ethan.
“THE WHITE VAN!”
Everyone froze.
Ethan turned toward the window.
Across the street, a white cargo van sat at the curb.
Its engine was running.
Then its headlights came on.
May you like
And the van started moving toward the house.
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