Chapter 1 - The Open Door
I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white.
Traffic around me was a sea of red brake lights that stretched for miles.
My phone was pressed hard against my ear.
I listened to the sound of Derek’s heavy boots crunching against my concrete driveway.
"The front door is wide open," Derek whispered.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
"Don't go in without the police," I told him.
"The police aren't here yet," he replied.
I heard the subtle creak of the front door hinges as Derek pushed his way inside.
He didn't call out for Noah or Travis.
He knew better than to give away his position to a man who had just used a baseball bat on a child.
"Talk to me," I begged.
"Living room is a mess," Derek said softly.
"Coffee table is shattered."
"I see the bat on the floor."
"Is there blood on it?" I asked, my voice cracking.
"A little," he muttered.
"But I don't hear anyone."
"Check the bedrooms," I urged him.
A sudden, sharp crashing sound echoed through the phone.
It sounded like a heavy piece of furniture hitting the drywall.
"Derek!" I yelled.
"Hang on," he breathed.
"Someone is crying in the kitchen."
I held my breath as I listened to his stealthy footsteps moving across the hardwood floor.
Then, a deafening explosion shattered the audio feed.
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It was the unmistakable roar of a gunshot.
The line went completely dead.
