Sarah stared at Rebecca Whitaker\u2019s driver\u2019s license as if she were staring at her own future.
\n\u201cIf something happens to me, David did it.\u201d
\nThe words seemed to hang in my kitchen long after Officer Ramirez finished reading them.
\nLeo stirred against Sarah\u2019s chest.
\nShe immediately held him tighter.
\n\u201cWhen was that note written?\u201d I asked.
\nOfficer Ramirez looked at the evidence bag.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a date at the bottom.\u201d
\nSarah swallowed.
\n\u201cWhat date?\u201d
\n\u201cOctober seventeenth. Seven years ago.\u201d
\nSarah closed her eyes.
\n\u201cThat was three days before Rebecca disappeared.\u201d
\nNobody spoke.
\nOfficer Collins slowly turned toward Ramirez.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d
\nSarah nodded.
\n\u201cI remember because I searched her name once.\u201d
\nDavid had told Sarah that Rebecca was an old girlfriend.
\nThen later, when Sarah discovered the photograph, he admitted Rebecca had actually been his wife.
\nBut according to him, the marriage had been miserable.
\nRebecca was supposedly unstable.
\nJealous.
\nManipulative.
\nAlways threatening to leave.
\nThen one weekend, she drove alone into the mountains for a hiking trip.
\nHer vehicle was discovered two days later near a trailhead.
\nHer purse was inside.
\nHer jacket was inside.
\nHer phone was missing.
\nRebecca never returned.
\nNo body was found.
\nNo arrest was made.
\nAnd eventually, David told everyone the same tragic story.
\nHis troubled wife had disappeared.
\nSarah looked at Officer Ramirez.
\n\u201cHe cried when he told me.\u201d
\nThe officer remained silent.
\n\u201cHe actually cried.\u201d
\nSarah laughed once.
\nIt was a broken, horrified sound.
\n\u201cHe told me losing Rebecca destroyed him. He said that was why he became so protective of me.\u201d
\nMy stomach twisted.
\nProtective.
\nWhat a convenient word monsters sometimes choose for control.
\nSarah continued.
\n\u201cThe first year we were together, he constantly said he was afraid I\u2019d disappear too.\u201d
\nOfficer Collins asked, \u201cWhen did his behavior toward you become controlling?\u201d
\nSarah thought.
\n\u201cAfter we got engaged.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd physical?\u201d
\n\u201cAfter Leo was born.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy then?\u201d
\nSarah looked down at her sleeping baby.
\n\u201cBecause once Leo came, David knew leaving would be harder.\u201d
\nRamirez and Collins exchanged a glance.
\nI understood what they were thinking.
\nSo did Sarah.
\nRebecca had tried to leave.
\nThen Rebecca disappeared.
\nSarah had tried to leave.
\nAnd that morning, David had threatened that nobody would ever find her.
\nOfficer Ramirez stepped into the hallway and made a phone call.
\nI could hear only pieces.
\n\u201cCold case.\u201d
\n\u201cRebecca Whitaker.\u201d
\n\u201cSeven years.\u201d
\n\u201cPossible new evidence.\u201d
\nSarah sat at my kitchen table.
\nFor several minutes, she said nothing.
\nThen she whispered, \u201cI could have become her.\u201d
\nI pulled out the chair beside her.
\n\u201cBut you didn\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cI almost did.\u201d
\n\u201cBut you didn\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat if I hadn\u2019t knocked on your door?\u201d
\nI looked at the measuring cup still sitting beside the sink.
\nA stupid little plastic cup.
\nThree months earlier, I had been irritated every time I saw it.
\nNow I wanted to frame the thing.
\n\u201cYou did knock.\u201d
\nSarah looked at me.
\n\u201cAnd somebody answered.\u201d
\nI squeezed her hand.
\nBefore she could respond, Officer Ramirez returned.
\n\u201cWe need Sarah and Leo moved somewhere David cannot access.\u201d
\nSarah stiffened.
\n\u201cIs he being arrested?\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019s being detained while investigators determine what charges apply. But I don\u2019t want to promise you anything about how long he\u2019ll remain in custody.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s fear immediately returned.
\n\u201cSo he could come back tonight?\u201d
\n\u201cPotentially.\u201d
\nI stood.
\n\u201cThen she stays here.\u201d
\nRamirez shook her head.
\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t recommend that.\u201d
\n\u201cThis door locks.\u201d
\n\u201cDavid already forced his way through it.\u201d
\nThat shut me up.
\nShe continued.
\n\u201cHe knows this apartment. He knows Sarah has been coming here. And now we know he may have entered your home without permission before.\u201d
\nSarah looked at me.
\n\u201cI\u2019m not putting you in danger.\u201d
\n\u201cYou aren\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cYes, I am.\u201d
\n\u201cNo. David is.\u201d
\n\u201cEleanor\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t argue with an old woman before lunch. We become unreasonable.\u201d
\nFor the first time since the police arrived, Officer Ramirez almost smiled.
\nThen Collins appeared in the doorway.
\n\u201cRamirez.\u201d
\nSomething in his tone erased the smile.
\nHe held a clear evidence bag.
\nInside was a small memory card.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did that come from?\u201d Ramirez asked.
\n\u201cRecorder in 405.\u201d
\nSarah stared at it.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s on it?\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll need forensics to process everything.\u201d
\nCollins hesitated.
\n\u201cBut I listened to enough to know we have a bigger problem.\u201d
\nRamirez\u2019s expression hardened.
\n\u201cWhat did you hear?\u201d
\nCollins looked at Sarah.
\n\u201cDavid talking to someone.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\n\u201cCouldn\u2019t identify the second voice.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat were they talking about?\u201d
\nCollins lowered his voice.
\n\u201cSarah leaving.\u201d
\nMy skin prickled.
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cRecording is timestamped two nights ago.\u201d
\nSarah went completely still.
\nTwo nights ago.
\nBefore David confronted her about the prepaid phone.
\nBefore her split lip.
\nBefore she ran into my apartment.
\n\u201cWhat did David say?\u201d she whispered.
\nCollins didn\u2019t answer immediately.
\nThen he said, \u201cHe told the other person that he thought you were preparing to run.\u201d
\nSarah gripped my hand.
\n\u201cWhat else?\u201d
\n\u201cSarah\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cPlease.\u201d
\nCollins looked toward Ramirez.
\nShe nodded.
\n\u201cHe said he needed to stop you before Friday.\u201d
\nSarah frowned.
\n\u201cFriday?\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happens Friday?\u201d Ramirez asked.
\n\u201cNothing.\u201d
\n\u201cAny appointments?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cFamily visits?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cTravel?\u201d
\nSarah shook her head.
\n\u201cNothing.\u201d
\nThen I remembered something.
\n\u201cYour sister.\u201d
\nSarah looked at me.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cYou told me your sister was supposed to be out of town until Friday.\u201d
\nHer face changed.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s sister, Emily, lived in Denver.
\nShe was supposed to return Friday afternoon.
\nSarah\u2019s original escape plan had been simple.
\nGet to the bus station.
\nTravel to Denver.
\nEmily would pick her up.
\nBut two weeks earlier, Emily had mentioned she would be away on business until Friday.
\nDavid knew the Denver address.
\nIf he had been listening through the recorder, he knew Emily\u2019s schedule too.
\nOfficer Ramirez immediately asked, \u201cDo you have your sister\u2019s number?\u201d
\nSarah nodded.
\n\u201cI tried calling her five minutes ago.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cNo answer.\u201d
\n\u201cCall again.\u201d
\nSarah dialed.
\nWe listened.
\nOne ring.
\nTwo.
\nThree.
\nVoicemail.
\nShe tried again.
\nNothing.
\nHer breathing quickened.
\n\u201cShe always answers.\u201d
\n\u201cShe may be traveling,\u201d I said.
\nSarah shook her head.
\n\u201cShe texts me if she can\u2019t answer.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez took the number and stepped away.
\nSarah called again.
\nVoicemail.
\nThen again.
\nNothing.
\nAfter the fourth attempt, her hands started shaking so violently that I took the phone from her.
\n\u201cSarah.\u201d
\n\u201cHe knows where she lives.\u201d
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t know that he did anything.\u201d
\n\u201cHe knows where she lives.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez returned.
\n\u201cI\u2019m asking Denver authorities to conduct a welfare check.\u201d
\nSarah nodded.
\nBut she didn\u2019t look reassured.
\nNeither did I.
\nThen my own phone rang.
\nEveryone jumped.
\nI looked at the screen.
\nUNKNOWN NUMBER.
\nI almost ignored it.
\nThen something told me not to.
\n\u201cHello?\u201d
\nNothing.
\n\u201cHello?\u201d
\nStatic.
\nThen breathing.
\nSlow.
\nQuiet.
\nSomeone was there.
\n\u201cWho is this?\u201d
\nSarah stared at me.
\nThe breathing continued.
\nThen a woman whispered, \u201cMrs. Gable?\u201d
\nMy spine stiffened.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know me.\u201d
\n\u201cWho are you?\u201d
\n\u201cI need you to listen carefully.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez immediately stepped closer.
\nI put the call on speaker.
\nThe woman continued.
\n\u201cYou need to stop talking to the police.\u201d
\nRamirez\u2019s eyes narrowed.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause David isn\u2019t the person you should be afraid of.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s face drained.
\n\u201cWho is this?\u201d I demanded.
\nThe woman ignored me.
\n\u201cIs Sarah with you?\u201d
\nSarah leaned toward the phone.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nThe caller went silent.
\nThen she whispered, \u201cSarah, take your baby and leave.\u201d
\nSarah stared at the phone.
\n\u201cWho are you?\u201d
\n\u201cYou need to leave that building.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause David never works alone.\u201d
\nOfficer Collins was already writing something down.
\nSarah stood.
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d
\nThe woman started crying.
\nNot loudly.
\nThe kind of crying someone makes while desperately trying not to be heard.
\n\u201cPlease,\u201d she whispered. \u201cYou have to believe me.\u201d
\nSarah moved closer to the phone.
\n\u201cTell me your name.\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cPlease.\u201d
\nAnother long pause.
\nThen the woman said something none of us expected.
\n\u201cMy name is Rebecca.\u201d
\nSarah stopped breathing.
\nI stared at Officer Ramirez.
\nCollins lowered his pen.
\nEven Leo seemed to become strangely quiet.
\nSarah shook her head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nThe caller sobbed.
\n\u201cI know what David told you.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cI know he said I disappeared.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re dead.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d
\nSarah grabbed the edge of the table.
\nOfficer Ramirez stepped toward the phone.
\n\u201cThis is Officer Ramirez. If you are Rebecca Whitaker, tell me where you are.\u201d
\nThe woman inhaled sharply.
\nThen the call disconnected.
\n\u201cHello?\u201d
\nNothing.
\n\u201cRebecca?\u201d
\nDead line.
\nSarah stared at me.
\n\u201cThat wasn\u2019t her.\u201d
\nI didn\u2019t answer.
\n\u201cIt couldn\u2019t be.\u201d
\nOfficer Collins was already contacting dispatch to trace the call.
\nSarah began pacing.
\n\u201cThis is some trick David arranged.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s possible,\u201d Ramirez said.
\n\u201cThen why?\u201d
\n\u201cTo frighten you. Confuse you. Discredit the investigation.\u201d
\nBut something bothered me.
\nThe fear in that woman\u2019s voice had sounded real.
\nI had spent three months listening to Sarah whisper through terror.
\nYou learn what genuine fear sounds like.
\nAnd whoever had called me was afraid.
\nVery afraid.
\nTen minutes later, Collins received information about the number.
\n\u201cPrepaid phone,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cRegistered?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cLocation?\u201d
\n\u201cLast tower connection was about eleven miles from here.\u201d
\nSarah looked at him.
\n\u201cSo she\u2019s nearby?\u201d
\n\u201cPossibly.\u201d
\nThen Officer Ramirez\u2019s radio crackled.
\nShe answered.
\nThe conversation lasted less than thirty seconds.
\nBut I watched her expression change with every word.
\nFinally, she lowered the radio.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d Sarah asked.
\nRamirez looked at her.
\n\u201cThe Denver police reached your sister\u2019s house.\u201d
\nSarah grabbed my hand.
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cEmily isn\u2019t there.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s fingernails dug into my skin.
\n\u201cWhere is she?\u201d
\n\u201cThey don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cWas there a break-in?\u201d
\nRamirez hesitated.
\n\u201cThe front door was unlocked.\u201d
\nSarah started crying.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd there were signs someone had been inside recently.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cSarah\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cNo!\u201d
\nShe rushed toward the door.
\nCollins blocked her gently.
\n\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d
\n\u201cTo Denver.\u201d
\n\u201cYou cannot go anywhere alone right now.\u201d
\n\u201cMy sister could be hurt!\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re working on locating her.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t understand!\u201d
\nSarah pointed toward the evidence on my table.
\n\u201cDavid heard everything! He knew Emily was helping me!\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez took Sarah by the shoulders.
\n\u201cListen to me. Going to Denver right now will not help your sister. We need you somewhere secure.\u201d
\nSarah covered her face.
\nThen my phone buzzed.
\nA text message.
\nUnknown number.
\nFor one second, I assumed it was Rebecca again.
\nIt wasn\u2019t.
\nThere was a photograph attached.
\nI opened it.
\nMy blood turned cold.
\nThe photograph showed Sarah\u2019s sister, Emily.
\nAlive.
\nSitting in what appeared to be the back seat of a vehicle.
\nHer face was frightened.
\nA piece of silver tape covered her mouth.
\nSarah saw the screen.
\nThe scream that came out of her made Leo wake and begin crying.
\nOfficer Ramirez grabbed the phone.
\nBeneath the photograph was one sentence.
\nDON\u2019T LET SARAH TALK ABOUT REBECCA.
\nThen another message arrived.
\nA second photograph.
\nThis one was older.
\nMuch older.
\nIt showed David standing beside a mountain trail.
\nAnd several feet behind him stood a woman with long brown hair.
\nRebecca.
\nBut David wasn\u2019t the detail that made Officer Ramirez whisper, \u201cOh my God.\u201d
\nThere was another man standing beside him.
\nA man I recognized instantly.
\nI had seen him hundreds of times.
\nIn the hallway.
\nAt the mailboxes.
\nFixing broken lights.
\nReplacing locks.
\nEntering apartments whenever tenants weren\u2019t home.
\nOur building superintendent.
\nMr. Harris.
\nAnd suddenly I understood how that listening device had gotten inside my tea tin without anyone forcing my kitchen window.
\nDavid hadn\u2019t needed to break into my apartment.
\nHe had someone with a master key.
\nSomeone who had been watching Sarah walk through my door every morning.
\nSomeone who could enter any apartment in the building whenever he pleased.
\nI looked toward my damaged front door.
\nThen toward Officer Ramirez.
\n\u201cWe need to leave.\u201d
\nShe nodded.
\nBut before anyone moved, the elevator bell chimed at the end of the corridor.
\nOfficer Collins looked through the doorway.
\nHis hand immediately moved toward his radio.
\n\u201cWhat is it?\u201d Ramirez asked.
\nCollins slowly backed into my apartment.
\n\u201cThe superintendent.\u201d
\nSarah clutched Leo.
\nMy heart began pounding.
\n\u201cMr. Harris?\u201d
\nCollins nodded.
\n\u201cHe just stepped off the elevator.\u201d
\nThen we heard a familiar voice from the hallway.
\nCalm.
\nFriendly.
\nAlmost cheerful.
\n\u201cMrs. Gable?\u201d
\nI gripped my cane.
\nMr. Harris walked closer.
\n\u201cI heard you were having trouble with your door.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez reached for her holster.
\nThen Harris said something that made every person inside my apartment freeze.
\n\u201cI\u2019m here to fix the lock.\u201d
\nAnd hidden behind his right leg\u2026
\nwas a black duffel bag.<\/p>\n
Mr. Harris stopped six feet from my doorway.
\nThe black duffel bag hung from his right hand.
\nFor years, I had known him as the man who changed hallway bulbs, unclogged sinks, accepted packages, and complained whenever residents left cardboard boxes beside the recycling bins.
\nNow I was looking at the photograph on my phone.
\nSeven years earlier.
\nA mountain trail.
\nDavid.
\nRebecca.
\nAnd Harris standing beside them.
\n\u201cMrs. Gable?\u201d Harris called again. \u201cEverything okay?\u201d
\nOfficer Collins moved into the hallway.
\n\u201cPut the bag down.\u201d
\nHarris blinked.
\n\u201cExcuse me?\u201d
\n\u201cPut the bag on the floor.\u201d
\nHarris looked toward my apartment.
\nThen at Collins.
\nHis friendly expression remained perfectly intact.
\n\u201cI\u2019m just here to repair her lock.\u201d
\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t call maintenance.\u201d
\nHarris smiled.
\n\u201cSomebody reported damage.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nThe smile weakened.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know. Front office.\u201d
\nCollins extended his hand.
\n\u201cBag. Floor. Now.\u201d
\nFor one second, Harris didn\u2019t move.
\nThen he slowly lowered the duffel bag.
\nSarah whispered behind me.
\n\u201cHe has keys.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez looked at her.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cMaster keys. He has keys to every apartment.\u201d
\nRamirez immediately radioed for another unit.
\nHarris heard her.
\nHis expression changed.
\nBarely.
\nBut I saw it.
\nThe cheerful superintendent disappeared for half a second.
\nThen he returned.
\n\u201cOfficers, I think there\u2019s been some misunderstanding.\u201d
\nCollins pointed toward the wall.
\n\u201cHands where I can see them.\u201d
\nHarris raised both hands.
\n\u201cWhat exactly is this about?\u201d
\n\u201cTurn around.\u201d
\n\u201cAm I under arrest?\u201d
\n\u201cTurn around.\u201d
\nHarris slowly faced the wall.
\nCollins approached him.
\nThat was when Harris ran.
\nHe didn\u2019t head toward the elevator.
\nHe sprinted for the stairwell.
\n\u201cStop!\u201d
\nCollins chased him.
\nRamirez ran after them.
\nThe stairwell door slammed.
\nSarah and I were suddenly alone.
\nI locked what remained of my damaged door.
\nSarah stood motionless, holding Leo.
\n\u201cWhy would he run?\u201d
\nI looked at the black duffel bag still sitting in the hallway.
\n\u201cBecause innocent maintenance men usually don\u2019t.\u201d
\nSarah stared at it.
\n\u201cDo you think Emily is in this building?\u201d
\nI didn\u2019t want to answer.
\nBecause the thought had already occurred to me.
\nIf Harris had access to every apartment, every storage room, every maintenance closet\u2026
\nthere were dozens of places someone could be hidden.
\nThen we heard shouting from the stairwell.
\nA crash.
\nMore shouting.
\nAnd silence.
\nTwo minutes later, Ramirez returned.
\n\u201cHarris is in custody.\u201d
\nSarah exhaled.
\n\u201cDid he say anything?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRamirez looked toward the duffel bag.
\n\u201cStay inside.\u201d
\nAnother officer arrived and photographed it before carefully opening the zipper.
\nI watched from the doorway.
\nThe first thing he removed was a roll of duct tape.
\nSarah went pale.
\nThen came zip ties.
\nA flashlight.
\nTwo prepaid phones.
\nA screwdriver.
\nSeveral syringes sealed inside plastic packaging.
\nAnd a ring containing at least twenty keys.
\nSarah backed away.
\nOfficer Ramirez\u2019s face hardened.
\n\u201cWhat was he planning?\u201d
\nNobody answered.
\nThen the officer reached deeper into the bag.
\nHe pulled out a folded piece of paper.
\nA printed photograph.
\nSarah\u2019s photograph.
\nTaken from across the parking lot.
\nShe was carrying Leo toward my apartment.
\nWritten across the bottom in black marker were four words.
\nFRIDAY. BEFORE SHE LEAVES.
\nSarah stared at it.
\n\u201cOh my God.\u201d
\nRamirez immediately took the photograph.
\nThen another object came from the bag.
\nA small notebook.
\nInside were dates.
\nTimes.
\nApartment numbers.
\nNames.
\nMy name appeared repeatedly.
\nGABLE \u2014 404.
\n8:14.
\n8:16.
\n8:13.
\n8:15.
\nBeside several entries was the letter S.
\nSarah.
\nThey had recorded every morning she visited me.
\nBut farther down the page, another apartment number appeared over and over.
\n417.
\n\u201cWho lives in 417?\u201d Ramirez asked.
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cNobody.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s been vacant for months.\u201d
\nThe officer looked at me.
\n\u201cWhere is it?\u201d
\n\u201cOther end of this floor.\u201d
\nSarah suddenly grabbed Ramirez\u2019s sleeve.
\n\u201cMy sister.\u201d
\nRamirez immediately radioed Collins.
\nWithin seconds, four officers were moving toward apartment 417.
\nSarah tried to follow.
\nI stopped her.
\n\u201cLet them go first.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat if Emily is there?\u201d
\n\u201cThen they\u2019ll bring her to you.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat if she needs me?\u201d
\n\u201cThen you need to stay alive long enough to be here when she does.\u201d
\nSarah hated hearing it.
\nBut she stayed.
\nWe waited.
\nThirty seconds.
\nA minute.
\nThen two.
\nEvery second felt unbearable.
\nFinally, a voice came over Ramirez\u2019s radio.
\n\u201cApartment clear.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s shoulders collapsed.
\nThen the voice continued.
\n\u201cHowever, we found evidence someone has been staying here.\u201d
\nRamirez answered.
\n\u201cWhat kind?\u201d
\n\u201cFood. Blankets. Surveillance equipment.\u201d
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n\u201cAnything else?\u201d
\nA pause.
\nThen:
\n\u201cYou need to see this.\u201d
\nRamirez told us to remain in my apartment.
\nShe disappeared down the hallway.
\nSarah paced.
\nI watched Leo.
\nThe poor child had finally fallen asleep again, completely unaware that half the building seemed to be hiding secrets around him.
\nTen minutes passed.
\nThen fifteen.
\nWhen Ramirez returned, she carried several photographs sealed inside evidence bags.
\nHer face told me they weren\u2019t ordinary photographs.
\n\u201cWhat did you find?\u201d Sarah asked.
\n\u201cApartment 417 appears to have been used to monitor residents.\u201d
\n\u201cResidents?\u201d
\n\u201cMostly you.\u201d
\nSarah stared.
\nRamirez placed the first photograph on my table.
\nSarah leaving 405.
\nAnother.
\nSarah entering my apartment.
\nAnother.
\nMe handing Sarah the measuring cup.
\nAnother.
\nSarah sitting beside my kitchen window holding the prepaid phone.
\nThey had been photographing us.
\nFor months.
\nThen Ramirez placed down one more.
\nIt showed Sarah at a bus station.
\nSarah frowned.
\n\u201cWhen was that?\u201d
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a timestamp.\u201d
\nShe looked closer.
\nHer face changed.
\n\u201cThat was four months ago.\u201d
\nBefore our escape plan.
\nBefore the documents.
\nBefore the tea tin.
\n\u201cWhy were you at the bus station?\u201d I asked.
\nSarah seemed confused.
\n\u201cI wasn\u2019t leaving.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why?\u201d
\n\u201cI was meeting my mother.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez looked at her.
\n\u201cYour mother?\u201d
\n\u201cShe came to see Leo.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere is she now?\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s expression changed again.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nI stared at her.
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cMy mother and David had a terrible argument that day.\u201d
\n\u201cAbout what?\u201d
\n\u201cMe.\u201d
\nSarah sat down.
\n\u201cShe told him she didn\u2019t like how he spoke to me. She said I looked frightened all the time.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd then?\u201d
\n\u201cDavid told her she wasn\u2019t welcome anymore.\u201d
\n\u201cDid you speak to her afterward?\u201d
\n\u201cFor a few weeks.\u201d
\nSarah swallowed.
\n\u201cThen her number stopped working.\u201d
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n\u201cYou never thought that was strange?\u201d
\n\u201cOf course I did. But David said she\u2019d blocked me because she was angry.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez leaned forward.
\n\u201cWhat is your mother\u2019s name?\u201d
\n\u201cLinda Mercer.\u201d
\nRamirez wrote it down.
\n\u201cWhere does she live?\u201d
\n\u201cOrlando.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen did you last personally speak to her?\u201d
\nSarah thought.
\n\u201cAlmost three months ago.\u201d
\nThat was approximately when Sarah began visiting me every morning.
\nRamirez radioed the name to dispatch.
\nSarah\u2019s breathing became shallow.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nI took her hand.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t jump ahead.\u201d
\nBut we both were.
\nTen minutes later, dispatch responded.
\nOfficer Ramirez listened.
\nThen asked them to repeat it.
\nSarah watched her face.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nRamirez lowered the radio.
\n\u201cSarah, your mother\u2019s phone wasn\u2019t disconnected.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s still active.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s impossible.\u201d
\n\u201cThe account has been paid every month.\u201d
\nSarah stared at her.
\n\u201cThen why can\u2019t I reach her?\u201d
\nRamirez hesitated.
\n\u201cThe phone has been connecting to towers here.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s face emptied.
\n\u201cHere?\u201d
\n\u201cIn this city.\u201d
\n\u201cThat doesn\u2019t make sense. She lives in Florida.\u201d
\n\u201cThe most recent connection was yesterday.\u201d
\nSarah stood so quickly her chair toppled backward.
\n\u201cMy mother is here?\u201d
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t know that. We only know her phone is.\u201d
\nThen my apartment phone rang.
\nNot my cell.
\nMy landline.
\nNobody had called that number all morning.
\nI stared at it.
\nSarah stared too.
\nIt rang again.
\nOfficer Ramirez gestured for me to answer.
\nI picked up.
\n\u201cHello?\u201d
\nNothing.
\nThen a woman breathed into the receiver.
\n\u201cEleanor?\u201d
\nIt was the same voice.
\nRebecca.
\n\u201cWhere are you?\u201d
\n\u201cI can\u2019t tell you.\u201d
\n\u201cThe police are here.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cHow?\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThen:
\n\u201cBecause I can see them.\u201d
\nI looked toward the windows.
\nRamirez immediately closed the blinds.
\n\u201cRebecca, listen to me. We found the photographs.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cWe found Harris.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cThen help us.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m trying.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere is Emily?\u201d
\nSarah rushed toward the phone.
\n\u201cRebecca, where is my sister?\u201d
\nThe woman began crying again.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s face crumpled.
\n\u201cWhat about my mother?\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cRebecca?\u201d
\nA shaky breath came through the receiver.
\nThen she said:
\n\u201cSarah\u2026 David lied to you about your mother.\u201d
\nSarah gripped the phone.
\n\u201cWhat did he do?\u201d
\n\u201cYour mother never blocked you.\u201d
\n\u201cI know that.\u201d
\n\u201cShe tried to get you away from him.\u201d
\nSarah closed her eyes.
\n\u201cWhere is she?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know where she is now.\u201d
\n\u201cThen what do you know?\u201d
\nRebecca hesitated.
\n\u201cI know she came here three months ago.\u201d
\n\u201cTo the building?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cTo get you and Leo.\u201d
\nSarah looked confused.
\n\u201cThat never happened.\u201d
\n\u201cShe never reached your apartment.\u201d
\nThe room went silent.
\nSarah whispered, \u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause Harris met her downstairs.\u201d
\nSarah began shaking.
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cYou must know something!\u201d
\n\u201cI saw them arguing near the maintenance entrance.\u201d
\n\u201cYou were here?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\nRebecca went quiet.
\n\u201cBecause I\u2019ve been watching David.\u201d
\nThat answer stunned everyone.
\n\u201cFor how long?\u201d Ramirez asked.
\n\u201cYears.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy haven\u2019t you gone to police?\u201d
\nA bitter laugh came through the phone.
\n\u201cBecause I tried once.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cDavid found out before I reached the station.\u201d
\n\u201cHow?\u201d
\nRebecca whispered:
\n\u201cSomeone inside the department told him.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez\u2019s expression changed.
\nCollins, standing near the doorway, slowly turned.
\n\u201cA police officer helped David?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know who.\u201d
\n\u201cRebecca, we need you to come in.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWe can protect you.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s what they told me seven years ago.\u201d
\nThen Rebecca said something that changed the entire room.
\n\u201cAsk David why Detective Mark Bennett closed my disappearance case.\u201d
\nCollins looked at Ramirez.
\nShe went pale.
\n\u201cBennett?\u201d
\n\u201cYou know him?\u201d
\nRamirez didn\u2019t answer.
\nRebecca did.
\n\u201cHe was the detective assigned to find me.\u201d
\nOfficer Collins whispered, \u201cHe\u2019s a captain now.\u201d
\nMy stomach dropped.
\nSarah stared at them.
\n\u201cA captain?\u201d
\nRamirez immediately pulled out her phone.
\nBut Rebecca shouted:
\n\u201cDon\u2019t call anyone!\u201d
\nRamirez froze.
\n\u201cIf Bennett knows you found the box, he\u2019ll destroy everything.\u201d
\n\u201cHow do you know Bennett was involved?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause David told me.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cThe night he tried to kill me.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nEven Sarah stopped crying.
\nRebecca\u2019s voice became quieter.
\n\u201cSeven years ago, I found evidence that David and Harris were using empty apartments for something. I confronted David. That was my mistake.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat were they using them for?\u201d
\n\u201cI never found out completely.\u201d
\n\u201cThen what happened?\u201d
\n\u201cDavid took me to the mountains.\u201d
\nSarah covered her mouth.
\n\u201cHe thought I was dead.\u201d
\nRebecca continued.
\n\u201cI survived. Barely. A couple found me two days later. I was terrified, so I gave them a false name.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy not go home?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause when I finally contacted Detective Bennett, he told me something only David knew.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez whispered, \u201cMeaning they were communicating.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cSo you disappeared voluntarily.\u201d
\n\u201cI disappeared because staying dead was the only way I knew how to remain alive.\u201d
\nSarah leaned toward the phone.
\n\u201cWhy come back now?\u201d
\nAnother pause.
\n\u201cBecause David started doing to you exactly what he did to me.\u201d
\nSarah closed her eyes.
\n\u201cAnd you watched?\u201d
\n\u201cI tried warning you.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cThe notes.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s eyes opened.
\n\u201cWhat notes?\u201d
\n\u201cThe ones I slipped beneath your door.\u201d
\nSarah looked confused.
\n\u201cI never received any notes.\u201d
\nRebecca went silent.
\nThen she whispered, \u201cHarris.\u201d
\nHe had found them.
\nOf course he had.
\nSarah began crying.
\n\u201cPlease tell me where Emily is.\u201d
\n\u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cPlease.\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cMy mother?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cThen give us something!\u201d
\nRebecca\u2019s breathing quickened.
\n\u201cThere is something.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cA storage room beneath the parking deck.\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez immediately started writing.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cBehind the maintenance workshop. There\u2019s a gray door without a number.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s inside?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know. Harris keeps it locked.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why does it matter?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause three months ago, I watched Harris take Sarah\u2019s mother through that door.\u201d
\nSarah made a choking sound.
\n\u201cAnd yesterday\u2026\u201d
\nRebecca stopped.
\nSarah gripped the receiver.
\n\u201cYesterday what?\u201d
\n\u201cI saw him open it again.\u201d
\n\u201cFor who?\u201d
\nRebecca started crying.
\n\u201cEmily.\u201d
\nSarah screamed her sister\u2019s name.
\nOfficer Ramirez immediately radioed Collins and the other officers.
\n\u201cParking deck. Maintenance workshop. Gray unmarked door. Move now.\u201d
\nBoots thundered through the corridor.
\nSarah tried following.
\nI grabbed her.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cMy family is down there!\u201d
\n\u201cAnd we don\u2019t know what else is down there.\u201d
\nWe waited.
\nAgain.
\nThose terrible minutes.
\nThen Ramirez\u2019s radio crackled.
\n\u201cWe located the door.\u201d
\n\u201cStatus?\u201d
\n\u201cLocked.\u201d
\n\u201cForce entry.\u201d
\nA crash echoed faintly through the building.
\nSarah clutched my hand.
\nAnother crash.
\nThen radio static.
\n\u201cDoor open.\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cCollins?\u201d
\nNothing.
\n\u201cCollins, report.\u201d
\nSarah stopped breathing.
\nFinally:
\n\u201cWe found someone.\u201d
\nSarah began sobbing.
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nRamirez grabbed the radio.
\n\u201cIdentify.\u201d
\nStatic.
\nThen Collins answered.
\n\u201cFemale. Alive.\u201d
\nSarah collapsed against me.
\n\u201cEmily.\u201d
\nBut Collins continued.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not Emily.\u201d
\nSarah froze.
\n\u201cThen who?\u201d
\nAnother pause.
\n\u201cWoman appears approximately sixty years old.\u201d
\nSarah\u2019s face went completely white.
\n\u201cMy mother.\u201d
\nRamirez asked, \u201cIs she conscious?\u201d
\n\u201cBarely.\u201d
\nSarah sobbed.
\nThen Collins said:
\n\u201cThere\u2019s something else.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cWe found multiple identification cards.\u201d
\n\u201cHow many?\u201d
\nA long silence.
\n\u201cAt least nine.\u201d
\nMy blood turned cold.
\n\u201cNine women?\u201d Ramirez asked.
\n\u201cLooks that way.\u201d
\nThen another officer shouted something in the background.
\nCollins stopped speaking.
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Ramirez demanded.
\nStatic.
\n\u201cCollins?\u201d
\nHis voice returned.
\nUrgent now.
\n\u201cWe found another door.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat door?\u201d
\n\u201cHidden behind shelving.\u201d
\n\u201cOpen it.\u201d
\nSeveral seconds passed.
\nThen I heard Collins swear.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nRamirez demanded.
\n\u201cWhat is it?\u201d
\nCollins answered:
\n\u201cSurveillance room.\u201d
\nSarah stared toward the floor as if she could see through four stories of concrete.
\n\u201cIs Emily there?\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re checking.\u201d
\nThen Collins said:
\n\u201cWait.\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cSomeone\u2019s moving.\u201d
\nRamirez grabbed her radio.
\n\u201cOfficer?\u201d
\nMore static.
\nThen:
\n\u201cFemale.\u201d
\nSarah squeezed my arm.
\n\u201cEmily?\u201d
\nCollins didn\u2019t answer immediately.
\nWhen he finally did, his voice sounded shaken.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nThen another voice came through the radio.
\nA woman.
\nWeak.
\nTerrified.
\nBut unmistakable.
\n\u201cEleanor?\u201d
\nMy heart stopped.
\nI knew that voice.
\nI had heard it minutes earlier on my telephone.
\nRebecca.
\nShe wasn\u2019t watching the building from somewhere outside.
\nShe had been underneath us the entire time.
\nAnd before the radio cut out, Rebecca screamed four words that made Officer Ramirez reach for her weapon.
\n\u201cBENNETT IS IN THE BUILDING!\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah stared at Rebecca Whitaker\u2019s driver\u2019s license as if she were staring at her own future. \u201cIf something happens to me, David did it.\u201d The words seemed to hang in … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6865"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6868,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6865\/revisions\/6868"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}