Chapter 4 - The Locked Door
I dropped the burner phone back into the small purse.
I stood up abruptly, completely ignoring Meredith's confused whisper.
"I need to use the restroom," I muttered, pushing past the knees of the other parents.
I sprinted up the carpeted stairs toward the back of the massive auditorium.
I reached the heavy metal door of the lighting booth and yanked it open.
The small room was completely empty.
The main spotlight was running automatically on a mechanical timer.
I stepped inside, my heart hammering violently against my ribs.
The large glass window overlooked the entire stage below.
On the metal counter next to the light controls, I saw a piece of paper folded in half.
I unfolded it with trembling fingers.
It was a printed photograph of my house, taken from the dark woods in our backyard.
A thick red circle was drawn around Chloe's bedroom window.
Written in black marker across the bottom were four terrifying words.
"Stop looking for answers."
Suddenly, the heavy metal door slammed shut behind me.
I spun around, but it was already too late.
The heavy deadbolt clicked into place from the outside.
I slammed my fists against the metal, but the loud piano music drowned out my desperate screams.
My cell phone buzzed in my pocket.
May you like
It was a text message from Meredith.
"Where are you? Richard just offered to take Chloe home early."
