Chapter 4: Three Knocks
The third knock landed harder than the first two.
Lily startled in her wheelchair.
Sarah immediately moved toward her, but I caught her wrist.
“Stay behind me.””
Rebecca stood frozen beside the counter.
Her eyes were locked on the front door.
“Daniel,” she whispered, “you don't understand.””
“I understand enough.””
Another knock.
Then a man's voice came through the door.
“Rebecca? Open up.””
Sarah's face went rigid.
“Ethan.””
I motioned for Margaret to take Lily toward the hallway.
“Don't go far.””
Margaret nodded.
Rebecca shook her head frantically.
“You can't let him see Sarah.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because he'll kill her.””
Sarah stepped forward.
“Let him try.””
I turned toward her.
“You just spent two years believing you were alone. You're not anymore.””
Her eyes softened for half a second.
Then Ethan knocked again.
“Rebecca, I know you're in there.””
I moved toward the door.
Rebecca grabbed my sleeve.
“Please.””
I pulled away.
“You had plenty of chances to tell me the truth.””
I unlocked the deadbolt but kept the chain secured.
When I opened the door, Ethan stood beneath the porch light.
He was taller than I remembered.
His black jacket had a fresh tear across the back.
His eyes immediately went to my face.
Then past me.
“Where is she?””
I said nothing.
His expression changed.
“You shouldn't have opened that door.””
I slammed it shut.
Ethan hit it from the other side.
“Daniel!””
I locked the second bolt.
“Call 911,” I told Margaret.
She pulled out her phone.
Rebecca whispered, “No.””
I looked at her.
“Why not?””
“Because Ethan isn't the only one involved.””
The back of my neck prickled.
“What does that mean?””
She looked toward Sarah.
“Someone inside the department was helping him.””
Sarah's eyes widened.
“The police?””
Rebecca nodded.
“After the accident, I reported everything I knew. Someone told Ethan when investigators were searching the river.””
Margaret's phone slipped slightly in her hand.
I reached for mine.
Before I could dial, the lights went out.
The entire house plunged into darkness.
Lily screamed.
“Daddy!””
I heard a window shatter.
Then footsteps.
Inside.
“Everyone stay down!”” I shouted.
Sarah dropped beside Lily's wheelchair.
Margaret crouched over them.
I grabbed the fireplace poker and moved toward the sound.
A shadow crossed the living room.
I swung.
The poker struck a man's arm.
He cursed.
Ethan.
He stumbled backward, then ran through the kitchen.
I chased him.
“Stop!””
He reached the hallway.
Sarah shouted behind me.
“Daniel, Lily!””
I turned.
The room was empty.
Lily's wheelchair was gone.
So was Margaret.
My blood turned to ice.
“Sarah?””
She looked toward the open back door.
“They took her.””
We ran outside.
A dark SUV was already disappearing down the driveway.
Sarah grabbed my arm.
“That's Ethan's car.””
I pulled out my phone.
There was one new message.
Unknown number.
*You have one hour. Come alone if you want your daughter alive.*
Below it was a photograph.
Lily was sitting in her wheelchair inside a dim room.
A man's hand rested on her shoulder.
I looked at Sarah.
Her face had gone white.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
*And bring the woman who survived.*
