\u201cShe gave details only Margaret Ellis would likely know.\u201d
\n\u201cLikely?\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re confirming fingerprints.\u201d
\n\u201cLet me see her.\u201d
\n\u201cNot yet.\u201d
\n\u201cRamirez\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cWesley.\u201d
\nHer voice softened slightly.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s terrified.\u201d
\nThat stopped him.
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cShe says she won\u2019t speak unless she sees you.\u201d
\n\u201cThen let me go.\u201d
\nRamirez hesitated.
\nThen nodded.
\n\u201cOnly you.\u201d
\nI stepped forward.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nEveryone looked at me.
\n\u201cI\u2019m involved too.\u201d
\nRamirez shook her head.
\n\u201cAudrey.\u201d
\n\u201cShe had files about my apartment.\u201d
\n\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cShe disappeared because of Unit 3B.\u201d
\nMargaret\u2019s voice came from the stairs.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s right.\u201d
\nMy whole body went cold.
\nA woman stood at the bottom step.
\nGray hair.
\nThinner than in the old photographs.
\nOlder somehow.
\nBut I recognized her.
\nThe woman with the little white dog.
\nMargaret Ellis.
\nWesley stopped breathing.
\nMargaret looked at him.
\nFor one second, neither spoke.
\nThen Wesley whispered, \u201cMargaret.\u201d
\nHer face broke.
\n\u201cOh, Wesley.\u201d
\nHe crossed the basement in three steps and hugged her.
\nShe clung to him.
\nNot politely.
\nDesperately.
\nLike someone holding onto the only person who understood the nightmare she had survived.
\nWesley pulled back.
\n\u201cI thought you were dead.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cI looked for you.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere were you?\u201d
\nMargaret looked around at the officers.
\nThen at Charles.
\nHer expression changed instantly.
\n\u201cYou.\u201d
\nCharles lowered his eyes.
\nMargaret took a step backward.
\n\u201cGet him away from me.\u201d
\nRamirez moved between them.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s being detained.\u201d
\n\u201cHe should be in handcuffs.\u201d
\nCharles didn\u2019t argue.
\nMargaret stared at him.
\n\u201cYou helped them.\u201d
\nCharles whispered, \u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cYou followed us.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cYou told Bell where we were.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYou expect me to believe that?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley touched Margaret\u2019s shoulder.
\n\u201cTell me what happened.\u201d
\nMargaret\u2019s eyes filled.
\n\u201cYou really don\u2019t remember?\u201d
\nWesley frowned.
\n\u201cRemember what?\u201d
\nShe stared at him.
\n\u201cThe night we ran.\u201d
\n\u201cI remember Bell attacking us.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd after?\u201d
\n\u201cI remember getting in your car.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\nWesley rubbed his forehead.
\n\u201cI remember blood.\u201d
\nMargaret nodded.
\n\u201cYour hand was cut badly.\u201d
\n\u201cI remember driving.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley looked at her.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cYou didn\u2019t drive.\u201d
\nHe froze.
\n\u201cI did.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cI remember\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cI drove.\u201d
\nMargaret stepped closer.
\n\u201cYou were barely conscious.\u201d
\nWesley looked confused.
\n\u201cYou told police I disappeared alone.\u201d
\n\u201cI had to.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\nMargaret looked around the room.
\n\u201cBecause somebody was waiting for us.\u201d
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\nI asked.
\n\u201cAt the motel.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat motel?\u201d
\n\u201cThe place Wesley told me to drive to.\u201d
\nWesley shook his head.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t remember a motel.\u201d
\n\u201cYou gave me the address.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYou did.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cIn the car.\u201d
\nMargaret\u2019s expression changed when she saw his confusion.
\n\u201cYou really don\u2019t remember.\u201d
\nWesley looked shaken.
\n\u201cWhat happened there?\u201d
\nMargaret swallowed.
\n\u201cWhen we arrived, there was already a man inside the room.\u201d
\nRamirez stepped closer.
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nMargaret looked at her.
\n\u201cI never knew his name.\u201d
\n\u201cDescribe him.\u201d
\n\u201cTall. Heavy build. Maybe fifty.\u201d
\n\u201cAnything else?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nHer voice became quieter.
\n\u201cHe had a police badge.\u201d
\nEvery officer in the room went still.
\nRamirez asked, \u201cWhat department?\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t see it clearly.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cHe told us he was there to help.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd you believed him?\u201d
\n\u201cAt first.\u201d
\nMargaret looked at Wesley.
\n\u201cWesley was bleeding. I was terrified.\u201d
\nShe rubbed her hands together.
\n\u201cHe said he could get us into witness protection.\u201d
\nWesley whispered, \u201cWitness protection?\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s what he called it.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did he want?\u201d
\n\u201cThe documents.\u201d
\nOf course.
\nMargaret continued.
\n\u201cHe said we couldn\u2019t carry evidence with us because Westbridge would track it.\u201d
\nCharles muttered, \u201cThat was a lie.\u201d
\nMargaret looked at him.
\n\u201cI know that now.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened next?\u201d Ramirez asked.
\nMargaret took a breath.
\n\u201cI gave him one folder.\u201d
\nWesley frowned.
\n\u201cWhy only one?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I didn\u2019t trust him.\u201d
\nA tiny smile appeared through her fear.
\n\u201cSo I gave him copies.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did you do with the originals?\u201d
\nMargaret looked directly at me.
\n\u201cI hid them.\u201d
\nMy stomach dropped.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cIn 3B.\u201d
\nMy apartment.
\nAgain.
\nI whispered, \u201cIn the wall?\u201d
\nShe nodded.
\n\u201cThe metal compartment.\u201d
\n\u201cBut the photographs showed it was emptied.\u201d
\n\u201cThat was after.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cI moved the documents first.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\nMargaret hesitated.
\nThen said, \u201cSomewhere Bell never checked.\u201d
\nWesley leaned closer.
\n\u201cWhat happened to the police officer?\u201d
\nMargaret\u2019s face went pale.
\n\u201cHe realized the folder was incomplete.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cHe became angry.\u201d
\n\u201cHow angry?\u201d
\n\u201cHe pulled a gun.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nWesley stared at her.
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cYou tried to stop him.\u201d
\nWesley instinctively touched his head.
\nMargaret noticed.
\n\u201cHe hit you.\u201d
\n\u201cMy knee?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cThen what?\u201d
\n\u201cYour head.\u201d
\nI remembered how Wesley had struggled with parts of that night.
\nHow he insisted he drove.
\nHow pieces didn\u2019t line up.
\n\u201cYou had a head injury.\u201d
\nMargaret nodded.
\n\u201cHe struck Wesley with the gun.\u201d
\nWesley whispered, \u201cWhy don\u2019t I remember that?\u201d
\nMargaret\u2019s eyes filled.
\n\u201cYou were unconscious.\u201d
\n\u201cFor how long?\u201d
\n\u201cLong enough.\u201d
\n\u201cLong enough for what?\u201d
\nShe looked at the floor.
\n\u201cFor him to put you in another car.\u201d
\nWesley went still.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cHe told me you were dead.\u201d
\nHis mouth opened.
\n\u201cHe said he killed you.\u201d
\nMargaret\u2019s voice broke.
\n\u201cI believed him.\u201d
\nWesley looked devastated.
\n\u201cHe separated us.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere did he take me?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cThen how did I end up back at work two days later?\u201d
\nMargaret stared at him.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve asked myself that for eighteen months.\u201d
\nRamirez immediately turned to Wesley.
\n\u201cWhat do you remember from those two days?\u201d
\nHe squeezed his eyes shut.
\n\u201cNothing clear.\u201d
\n\u201cNothing?\u201d
\n\u201cHospital lights.\u201d
\nEveryone looked at him.
\n\u201cI thought they were from my knee injury.\u201d
\nMargaret shook her head.
\n\u201cThat happened later.\u201d
\nWesley stared at her.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nMy heart started pounding.
\n\u201cYour loading dock fall,\u201d I said.
\n\u201cThat was after Margaret disappeared?\u201d
\nCharles answered.
\n\u201cSix weeks after.\u201d
\nWesley looked sick.
\n\u201cSo my head injury came first.\u201d
\n\u201cYes,\u201d Margaret said.
\n\u201cAnd nobody told me.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRamirez\u2019s face had changed.
\nShe was putting pieces together.
\n\u201cIf someone inside law enforcement assaulted you and then returned you without a report\u2026\u201d
\nCharles finished the thought.
\n\u201cThey erased it.\u201d
\nMargaret nodded.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I ran.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere did you go?\u201d Wesley asked.
\n\u201cMy daughter helped me.\u201d
\n\u201cIn Oregon?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cShe knew?\u201d
\n\u201cNot everything.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you contact police?\u201d
\nMargaret looked toward Ramirez.
\n\u201cBecause every time I tried, somebody knew before I finished making the call.\u201d
\nRamirez frowned.
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d
\n\u201cThe first time, I called a county detective.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cWithin twenty minutes, someone from Westbridge called my daughter.\u201d
\nCharles looked stunned.
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\n\u201cBell.\u201d
\nRamirez\u2019s face hardened.
\n\u201cAnd the second time?\u201d
\n\u201cI used a different phone.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cA man came to the house that night.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\n\u201cThe same officer from the motel.\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cDid he threaten you?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d
\nMargaret swallowed.
\n\u201cHe said Wesley was alive.\u201d
\nWesley looked at her.
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cHe said if I ever came back, Wesley would die for real.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s eyes closed.
\nMargaret whispered, \u201cSo I stayed gone.\u201d
\nNobody spoke.
\nThen I asked the question that had been burning inside me.
\n\u201cWhy did you come back today?\u201d
\nMargaret looked at me.
\n\u201cBecause last night I got an email.\u201d
\n\u201cFrom who?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did it say?\u201d
\nShe reached into her coat and removed a folded printout.
\nRamirez took it.
\nThe message contained only three lines.
\nBELL HAS LOST CONTROL.
\nEMILY\u2019S BOX WILL BE FOUND TOMORROW.
\nIF YOU WANT WESLEY ALIVE, COME BACK.
\nWesley stared at it.
\n\u201cThey knew about Emily\u2019s box.\u201d
\nMargaret nodded.
\n\u201cBefore we opened it,\u201d I whispered.
\nRamirez\u2019s expression darkened.
\n\u201cThat means someone knew what was in this basement.\u201d
\nCharles looked toward the ceiling.
\n\u201cOr someone knew what the police were about to find.\u201d
\nEvery officer became very still.
\nMargaret suddenly grabbed Wesley\u2019s hand.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s more.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThe motel officer.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat about him?\u201d
\n\u201cI finally learned his name.\u201d
\nRamirez moved closer.
\n\u201cTell me.\u201d
\nMargaret looked at every officer in the room.
\nThen she shook her head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cMargaret.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not saying it here.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause one of you might call him.\u201d
\nRamirez\u2019s face tightened.
\n\u201cI\u2019m trying to help you.\u201d
\nMargaret stared at her.
\n\u201cI believed that once.\u201d
\nNobody moved.
\nThen Margaret reached into her coat again.
\nShe removed a small photograph.
\nOld.
\nCreased.
\nTaken from far away.
\nA man was standing beside Bell near the apartment building.
\nThe image was blurry.
\nBut I could still see his face.
\nRamirez looked at it.
\nThen suddenly went pale.
\nWesley noticed.
\n\u201cYou know him.\u201d
\nRamirez didn\u2019t answer.
\n\u201cWho is he?\u201d
\nMargaret watched her carefully.
\nRamirez stared at the photograph for several seconds.
\nThen whispered one word.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked.
\nShe looked toward the basement stairs.
\nThen at the officers beside her.
\n\u201cLock the building.\u201d
\nOne of them frowned.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cNow.\u201d
\nHer voice sharpened.
\n\u201cLock every entrance.\u201d
\nEveryone started moving.
\nWesley grabbed her arm.
\n\u201cRamirez, who is he?\u201d
\nShe looked at him.
\n\u201cThe man in this photograph is Captain David Mercer.\u201d
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n\u201cCaptain?\u201d
\nRamirez nodded.
\n\u201cHe supervised the original Margaret Ellis investigation.\u201d
\nThe room went silent.
\nMargaret whispered, \u201cHe was the man at the motel.\u201d
\nRamirez stared at the stairs.
\nThen her radio crackled.
\nA voice came through.
\n\u201cCaptain Mercer just arrived.\u201d
\nMargaret\u2019s hand closed around Wesley\u2019s.
\nRamirez slowly reached for her weapon.
\nAnd from upstairs, a man called down,
\n\u201cRamirez?\u201d
\nHer face lost all color.
\nThe voice continued.
\n\u201cI heard we found Margaret.\u201d
\nMargaret whispered,
\n\u201cThat\u2019s him.\u201d<\/p>\n
PART 9 \u2014 THE CAPTAIN IN THE HALLWAY<\/h1>\n
Nobody moved.
\nCaptain Mercer\u2019s voice came from the stairwell again.
\n\u201cRamirez?\u201d
\nOfficer Ramirez raised one finger to her lips.
\nMargaret\u2019s face had gone white.
\nWesley stood in front of her instinctively.
\nCharles whispered, \u201cHe knows she\u2019s here.\u201d
\nRamirez looked at him.
\n\u201cHow?\u201d
\nCharles glanced toward the ceiling.
\n\u201cBecause somebody told him.\u201d
\nOne of the younger officers reached for his radio.
\nRamirez grabbed his wrist.
\n\u201cNo radios.\u201d
\nHe stared at her.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause if Mercer is involved, we don\u2019t know who else is.\u201d
\nThe basement suddenly felt even smaller.
\nMercer called again.
\n\u201cI know you\u2019re down there.\u201d
\nRamirez pulled her weapon.
\nWesley whispered, \u201cWhat do we do?\u201d
\n\u201cStay behind me.\u201d
\nMargaret shook her head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nEveryone looked at her.
\n\u201cHe\u2019ll kill you.\u201d
\nRamirez\u2019s jaw tightened.
\n\u201cHe won\u2019t get the chance.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know him.\u201d
\n\u201cI know enough.\u201d
\nMargaret grabbed Ramirez\u2019s arm.
\n\u201cNo, you don\u2019t.\u201d
\nFootsteps started down the stairs.
\nSlow.
\nControlled.
\nMercer wasn\u2019t rushing.
\nThat made it worse.
\nRamirez aimed toward the stairwell.
\n\u201cCaptain Mercer, stop where you are.\u201d
\nThe footsteps stopped.
\nSilence.
\nThen Mercer laughed softly.
\n\u201cIs that really necessary?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re on the same side.\u201d
\n\u201cNo, we\u2019re not.\u201d
\nAnother pause.
\nThen he asked, \u201cMargaret told you.\u201d
\nNobody answered.
\nMercer sighed.
\n\u201cI was hoping we could avoid this.\u201d
\nWesley leaned toward Margaret.
\n\u201cWhat does he want?\u201d
\n\u201cThe evidence.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat evidence?\u201d
\nMargaret looked toward Emily\u2019s metal box.
\n\u201cAll of it.\u201d
\nMercer must have heard.
\n\u201cWesley.\u201d
\nWesley froze.
\n\u201cYou\u2019ve had a very difficult few years.\u201d
\nHis voice was almost gentle.
\n\u201cLet me help you.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s face hardened.
\n\u201cYou hit me with a gun.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThen Mercer said, \u201cYou remember that?\u201d
\n\u201cNot everything.\u201d
\n\u201cMemory is unreliable after trauma.\u201d
\nMargaret whispered, \u201cDon\u2019t listen to him.\u201d
\nMercer continued.
\n\u201cYou were confused that night.\u201d
\n\u201cYou attacked me.\u201d
\n\u201cI stopped you from making a terrible mistake.\u201d
\nWesley laughed bitterly.
\n\u201cBy knocking me unconscious?\u201d
\n\u201cYou were protecting stolen documents.\u201d
\n\u201cThey were evidence.\u201d
\n\u201cEvidence can be interpreted many ways.\u201d
\nRamirez\u2019s expression tightened.
\n\u201cCaptain, step into view with your hands where I can see them.\u201d
\nFor several seconds, nothing happened.
\nThen Mercer appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
\nHands raised.
\nNo visible weapon.
\nHe looked exactly like the photograph, only older.
\nBroad shoulders.
\nGray at the temples.
\nCalm eyes.
\nHe smiled at Ramirez.
\n\u201cHappy?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRamirez stepped forward.
\n\u201cTurn around.\u201d
\nMercer looked at the officers behind her.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re making a serious mistake.\u201d
\n\u201cTurn around.\u201d
\nHe ignored her and looked directly at Margaret.
\n\u201cEighteen months.\u201d
\nMargaret shook.
\n\u201cYou should have stayed gone.\u201d
\nWesley moved in front of her.
\nMercer smiled.
\n\u201cThere he is.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThe hero.\u201d
\nWesley said nothing.
\nMercer continued.
\n\u201cYou weren\u2019t always so righteous.\u201d
\nCharles looked away.
\nWesley noticed.
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d
\nMercer nodded toward Charles.
\n\u201cAsk him.\u201d
\nCharles muttered, \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d
\nWesley snapped, \u201cAsk him what?\u201d
\nMercer smiled.
\n\u201cAsk Charles who gave me your name.\u201d
\nWesley went still.
\nCharles closed his eyes.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley turned.
\n\u201cCharles.\u201d
\n\u201cI was scared.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d
\nCharles looked at him.
\n\u201cI told Mercer you had the files.\u201d
\nWesley stared.
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cThe night Margaret disappeared.\u201d
\nMargaret looked horrified.
\n\u201cYou?\u201d
\nCharles nodded.
\n\u201cI thought Mercer was helping Westbridge contain a leak.\u201d
\n\u201cYou sold us out.\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t know what he was going to do.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s what everyone says after.\u201d
\nCharles lowered his head.
\nWesley looked back at Mercer.
\n\u201cSo Charles called you.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cYou followed us.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cYou attacked me.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nThe admission was so casual it stunned everyone.
\nRamirez\u2019s weapon stayed trained on him.
\n\u201cCaptain Mercer, you are under arrest.\u201d
\nMercer almost smiled.
\n\u201cFor what?\u201d
\n\u201cAssault. Obstruction. Evidence tampering. Potential conspiracy.\u201d
\n\u201cPotential?\u201d
\nRamirez took a step closer.
\n\u201cTurn around.\u201d
\nMercer looked amused.
\nThen Margaret said, \u201cTell them about Emily.\u201d
\nHis expression changed.
\nOnly slightly.
\nWesley noticed.
\n\u201cWhat about my wife?\u201d
\nMercer looked at him.
\n\u201cEmily was brave.\u201d
\nWesley\u2019s jaw tightened.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t say her name.\u201d
\n\u201cShe was also reckless.\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cShe thought collecting evidence made her untouchable.\u201d
\nWesley stepped forward.
\nRamirez blocked him.
\n\u201cWhat did you do to her?\u201d
\nMercer said nothing.
\nWesley shouted, \u201cWhat did you do to my wife?\u201d
\nMercer\u2019s eyes remained cold.
\n\u201cI gave her a chance.\u201d
\n\u201cTo do what?\u201d
\n\u201cWalk away.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd when she didn\u2019t?\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThat silence was the answer.
\nWesley\u2019s face broke.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nMargaret covered her mouth.
\nCharles whispered, \u201cDavid\u2026\u201d
\nMercer looked at him.
\n\u201cBe quiet.\u201d
\nRamirez said, \u201cDid you tamper with Emily Grant\u2019s vehicle?\u201d
\nMercer smiled faintly.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re recording this, aren\u2019t you?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cThen I think I\u2019ll stop talking.\u201d
\nRamirez reached for her handcuffs.
\n\u201cTurn around.\u201d
\nMercer slowly turned.
\nFor one second, I thought it was over.
\nThen the lights went out.
\nTotal darkness.
\nSomeone screamed.
\nA gunshot exploded.
\nThen another.
\nI dropped to the floor.
\nWesley shouted Margaret\u2019s name.
\nRamirez yelled, \u201cNobody move!\u201d
\nSomething crashed.
\nFootsteps ran.
\nThen the emergency lights flickered on.
\nRed.
\nDim.
\nChaotic.
\nMercer was gone.
\nOne officer was on the floor clutching his shoulder.
\nRamirez rushed to him.
\n\u201cChen!\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m okay.\u201d
\nBlood soaked his sleeve.
\nMargaret was crouched behind the table.
\nWesley grabbed her.
\n\u201cYou okay?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nCharles looked toward the stairs.
\n\u201cHe ran.\u201d
\nRamirez turned on the officers.
\n\u201cSeal every exit!\u201d
\nOne officer ran upstairs.
\nThen Ramirez looked at the electrical panel.
\n\u201cWho killed the lights?\u201d
\nNobody answered.
\nMargaret suddenly stared at the table.
\nHer face changed.
\n\u201cThe box.\u201d
\nWe all looked.
\nEmily\u2019s metal box was open.
\nThe flash drives were gone.
\nWesley searched frantically.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nThe documents were still there.
\nThe notebook remained.
\nBut both flash drives had disappeared.
\nRamirez swore under her breath.
\n\u201cMercer took them.\u201d
\nMargaret shook her head.
\n\u201cHe couldn\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cHe was across the room when the lights went out.\u201d
\nEveryone went silent.
\nRamirez slowly looked around.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re saying someone else took them.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nThat meant somebody in the basement had helped him.
\nMy stomach twisted.
\nOne of us.
\nOr one of the officers.
\nRamirez seemed to realize the same thing.
\n\u201cEveryone stays here.\u201d
\nCharles laughed bitterly.
\n\u201cYou finally understand.\u201d
\nRamirez spun toward him.
\n\u201cShut up.\u201d
\nThen a radio crackled upstairs.
\n\u201cCaptain Mercer exited through the rear stairwell.\u201d
\nRamirez grabbed the radio.
\n\u201cWho saw him?\u201d
\n\u201cOfficer Patel.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere is Patel now?\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cPatel?\u201d
\nNothing.
\nRamirez\u2019s face changed.
\nThen another voice came over the radio.
\n\u201cWe found Patel.\u201d
\nEveryone froze.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cIn the laundry room.\u201d
\n\u201cCondition?\u201d
\nA pause.
\n\u201cUnconscious.\u201d
\nRamirez cursed.
\nMargaret whispered, \u201cMercer had help.\u201d
\nWesley looked at her.
\n\u201cYou still know the name of the person inside the department.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cThen tell us.\u201d
\nMargaret looked around.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley stared at her.
\n\u201cMargaret.\u201d
\n\u201cNot here.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I\u2019m not sure anymore.\u201d
\n\u201cNot sure of what?\u201d
\n\u201cWhether Mercer was the only one.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThen Officer Ramirez\u2019s phone vibrated.
\nShe checked the screen.
\nHer face changed.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nI asked.
\nShe looked at Wesley.
\n\u201cMercer just sent me a message.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat does it say?\u201d
\nShe turned the phone.
\nThere was a photograph.
\nNolan.
\nMy son.
\nWalking beside Melissa outside her apartment.
\nMy blood went cold.
\nBelow the photo was one sentence.
\nBRING ME EMILY\u2019S NOTEBOOK OR THE BOY DISAPPEARS NEXT.
\nI stopped breathing.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley grabbed my arm.
\n\u201cAudrey.\u201d
\nI pulled away.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nRamirez immediately started calling.
\n\u201cGet units to Melissa\u2019s apartment now.\u201d
\nI was already dialing her.
\nNo answer.
\nAgain.
\nNo answer.
\nMy hands shook so badly I nearly dropped the phone.
\n\u201cPick up.\u201d
\nNothing.
\nThen a text came from Melissa.
\nDON\u2019T CALL.
\nMy heart stopped.
\nAnother message.
\nSOMEONE IS OUTSIDE.
\nThen another.
\nAUDREY, THEY KNOW WE\u2019RE HERE.
\nI looked at Ramirez.
\n\u201cWe have to go.\u201d
\n\u201cUnits are already moving.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s my son.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cNo, you don\u2019t.\u201d
\nI grabbed my coat.
\nWesley followed.
\nRamirez stepped in front of us.
\n\u201cYou cannot rush into this.\u201d
\n\u201cWatch me.\u201d
\nMargaret suddenly grabbed the notebook from the table.
\nEveryone looked at her.
\n\u201cThis is what Mercer wants.\u201d
\nRamirez said, \u201cPut that down.\u201d
\nMargaret ignored her.
\nShe flipped through pages quickly.
\nThen stopped.
\nHer eyes widened.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nWesley asked.
\nMargaret pointed at one page.
\n\u201cEmily wrote Nolan\u2019s apartment.\u201d
\nMy stomach dropped.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nMargaret read aloud.
\nUNIT 3B FUTURE TENANT MUST NEVER FIND STORAGE PANEL.
\nI stared at her.
\n\u201cFuture tenant?\u201d
\n\u201cShe wrote this before you moved in.\u201d
\nWesley looked closer.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s more.\u201d
\nMargaret continued.
\nIF BUILDING IS REOCCUPIED, MOVE LEDGER BEFORE FAMILY ENTERS.
\nMy hands went cold.
\n\u201cWhat ledger?\u201d
\nCharles whispered, \u201cOh God.\u201d
\nWe turned to him.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nHe looked terrified.
\n\u201cThe real records.\u201d
\nMargaret nodded slowly.
\n\u201cThe notebook is only an index.\u201d
\nWesley stared.
\n\u201cAn index to what?\u201d
\nMargaret looked at me.
\n\u201cTo everything Westbridge paid for.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere is it?\u201d
\nShe turned the page.
\nEmily had drawn a crude diagram.
\nUnit 3B.
\nMy apartment.
\nA mark behind Nolan\u2019s bedroom wall.
\nMy stomach dropped.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nWesley whispered, \u201cAudrey\u2026\u201d
\nI stared at the drawing.
\nThe mold in the kitchen had only been one hidden problem.
\nThe real evidence had been inside my home the entire time.
\nBehind the wall where my son slept.
\nAnd now Mercer knew Nolan existed.
\nI grabbed the notebook.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re going back to my apartment.\u201d
\nRamirez stared at me.
\n\u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d
\n\u201cHe wants this because he thinks the ledger is still there.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd that makes your apartment the most dangerous place in the city right now.\u201d
\n\u201cExactly.\u201d
\nWesley looked at me.
\n\u201cWhat are you thinking?\u201d
\nI swallowed.
\n\u201cIf Mercer wants the ledger badly enough to threaten Nolan\u2026\u201d
\nMargaret finished the thought.
\n\u201cThen we use it to make him come to us.\u201d
\nRamirez shook her head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nI looked directly at her.
\n\u201cMy son is nine years old.\u201d
\nMy voice broke.
\n\u201cI am done waiting for these people to decide what happens to my family.\u201d
\nThen Ramirez\u2019s phone rang.
\nUnknown number.
\nEveryone froze.
\nShe answered.
\n\u201cRamirez.\u201d
\nMercer\u2019s voice came through the speaker.
\n\u201cBring Audrey to Unit 3B.\u201d
\nMy skin went cold.
\nHe continued.
\n\u201cBring the notebook.\u201d
\nRamirez said nothing.
\n\u201cAnd come alone.\u201d
\nWesley whispered, \u201cHe knows.\u201d
\nMercer heard him.
\n\u201cI said alone.\u201d
\nThen his voice became quieter.
\n\u201cAudrey?\u201d
\nI stared at the phone.
\n\u201cI\u2019m here.\u201d
\nMercer laughed softly.
\n\u201cGood.\u201d
\nI clenched my fists.
\n\u201cWhere is my son?\u201d
\n\u201cSafe.\u201d
\n\u201cLet me hear him.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cIf you hurt him\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t want Nolan.\u201d
\nMy heart slammed.
\n\u201cThen what do you want?\u201d
\nMercer answered,
\n\u201cI want what your son found behind his bedroom wall three months ago.\u201d
\nEverything inside me stopped.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nMercer chuckled.
\n\u201cYou really don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nThe call ended.
\nI looked at Wesley.
\nThen Margaret.
\nThen the drawing.
\nThree months ago.
\nNolan had started hiding things in a small shoebox under his bed.
\nLittle treasures.
\nCoins.
\nOld cards.
\nBroken toys.
\nThings I never questioned.
\nAnd suddenly I remembered something he had said weeks earlier.
\nMom, I found a secret hole in my wall.
\nI had been tired.
\nI had barely listened.
\nI told him not to pick at the paint.
\nNow my blood turned cold.
\nBecause Mercer wasn\u2019t hunting for something hidden in my apartment.
\nHe was hunting for something my nine-year-old son had already found.<\/p>\n
![\"\ud83d\udc49\"](\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f449.svg\")
PART 10 \u2014\u00a0 THE SECRET NOLAN FOUND<\/a><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"