Chapter 7 - The True Motive
Four men dressed in dark clothing rushed into the tiny motel room.
I dropped my phone and lunged forward, throwing myself in front of the screaming children.
"Grab the little ones and let's go!" yelled the scarred man I had seen driving the SUV.
I grabbed a heavy lamp from the bedside table and swung it desperately at the first man who approached.
It shattered against his shoulder, buying me exactly two seconds of time.
"Leo, take them to the bathroom and lock the door!" I screamed.
The six-year-old didn't hesitate, shoving his siblings into the cramped bathroom and slamming the door shut.
The scarred man punched me hard in the stomach, dropping me to my knees.
"You should have just minded your own business, Carter," he spat, pulling a crowbar from his jacket.
Evelyn walked calmly into the room, stepping over the broken door frame.
"Break the bathroom lock," she ordered the men smoothly.
I grabbed the scarred man's ankle, yanking him backward with all the strength I had left.
He fell hard against the television stand, cursing loudly.
I scrambled to my feet, blocking the narrow hallway that led to the bathroom.
"You are not touching them," I gasped, wiping blood from my mouth.
Evelyn laughed softly, pulling a piece of paper from her pocket.
"I don't need to fight you, Mr. Carter," she smiled wickedly.
"I already filed a police report claiming you kidnapped my nieces and nephews, and I gave them this exact address."
My stomach dropped as I heard the piercing sound of police sirens approaching rapidly outside.
"They will arrest you, I will take the kids, and by tomorrow morning, that trust fund will be emptied," she gloated.
The flashing red and blue lights illuminated the motel room through the thin curtains.
Evelyn and her men quickly retreated, slipping out the broken back window before the cops could reach the door.
Three police officers rushed into the room, their weapons drawn and pointed directly at my chest.
"Put your hands in the air and get on the ground!" the lead officer shouted.
I raised my hands slowly, hearing the children crying behind the locked bathroom door.
"You don't understand, the woman who called you is trying to steal them," I pleaded.
The officer shoved me against the wall, forcefully slapping cold metal handcuffs onto my wrists.
"Save it for the judge, buddy," he growled.
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As they dragged me out into the parking lot, I saw Mrs. Gable standing near a squad car, looking at me with pure disappointment.
The system was going to give the children right back to the monsters.
