Chapter 5: The Child Who Remembered
James drove back faster than he ever had before.
Every second felt like a mistake he couldn’t undo.
Caleb Voss had been inside the station.
The one place Ethan was supposed to be safe.
When James arrived, officers surrounded the entrance.
The station doors were locked.
Maria rushed toward him.
“He didn’t get far.””
James looked around.
“Where is Ethan?””
Nobody answered immediately.
That scared him more.
Finally, an officer pointed toward the hallway.
“He found him.””
James walked quickly.
Then he saw Ethan.
The boy was sitting in an office with another officer.
Alive.
Safe.
But shaking.
James entered slowly.
“Ethan.””
The boy looked up.
His eyes filled with tears.
“James…”
The use of his first name told James everything.
The child trusted him.
“What happened?””
Ethan looked toward the floor.
“He came to talk to me.””
James sat beside him.
“Did he hurt you?””
Ethan shook his head.
“No.””
A pause.
“He said Mommy was lying.””
James stayed quiet.
“What else did he say?””
Ethan hugged his knees.
“He said nobody would believe me.””
James felt anger rise.
“But you knew someone would.””
Ethan nodded.
“You believed me.””
James looked at him.
“And I always will.””
Outside the room, Maria approached.
“We found where Caleb went.””
James stood.
“Where?””
She held up a photograph.
A cabin.
Deep in the woods.
“Rachel’s address matched one of his old properties.””
James looked at the photo.
“He went there.””
Maria nodded.
“But there’s something else.””
“What?””
“He left something behind.””
They walked to the evidence room.
On the table was a small envelope.
James opened it carefully.
Inside was a letter.
Only one sentence.
“You should have looked closer.””
James stared at the words.
Maria frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Then another officer entered.
“Detective, we searched the cabin records.””
James turned.
“And?””
The officer looked uncomfortable.
“Caleb Voss didn’t own the cabin.””
Maria narrowed her eyes.
“Then who did?””
The officer handed over the file.
James opened it.
The owner’s name was written at the top.
Rachel Voss.
Everyone went silent.
“She said she left him,” Maria whispered.
James looked at the paperwork.
“But this property stayed connected to her.””
Something didn’t make sense.
Then Ethan appeared in the doorway.
“James?””
He looked down.
“What is it?””
The boy pointed at the file.
“I know that place.””
James turned.
“You’ve been there?””
Ethan nodded slowly.
“Caleb took me there once.””
Maria stepped closer.
“Why?””
Ethan’s face became pale.
“He told me it was where bad people go.””
James crouched.
“What did you see?””
The boy looked terrified.
“A room.””
“What kind of room?””
Ethan whispered:
“A room with names on the wall.””
James felt his stomach tighten.
“Whose names?””
Ethan looked toward the evidence table.
Then at the photograph.
“Kids.””
Nobody spoke.
James looked at Maria.
“Get every unit available.””
As they prepared to leave, Ethan grabbed James’s hand.
“Please hurry.””
James looked down.
“Why?””
The boy’s voice trembled.
“Because Caleb said he was going back for the last one.””
James froze.
“The last one?””
May you like
Ethan nodded.
“He said he saved the best for last.””
