Chapter 2 - The Silent House
Laura stared at the photograph on the detective's phone in absolute horror.
The second-in-command of the Maple Ridge police department was working as a collection agent for a local criminal.
"We cannot trust anyone at the precinct," Mike said, pacing the small office.
"If Vance knows the boy is here, Vincent's entire crew will be circling the building in ten minutes."
Caleb looked up at them with wide, terrified eyes.
"They are going to go back to my house and hurt my mom," Caleb said, his voice breaking.
Laura grabbed her car keys from the desk.
"We need to get to your mother right now, Caleb," she said firmly.
They left the bank through the underground employee garage to avoid any watchers on the street.
Mike drove his unmarked sedan while Laura sat in the back with Caleb.
The boy gave them directions to a dilapidated neighborhood on the edge of town.
They pulled up to a small, gray house with overgrown weeds and peeling paint.
The front door was hanging wide open, the wood splintered around the deadbolt.
Mike drew his service weapon and motioned for Laura to stay in the car with Caleb.
He stepped onto the porch and disappeared into the dark hallway.
Laura held Caleb's hand tightly, praying silently for his mother's safety.
A agonizing minute passed before Mike appeared in the doorway and waved them inside.
The living room was completely destroyed.
Couch cushions were ripped apart, drawers were smashed, and broken dishes littered the kitchen floor.
Lying on the floor near the hallway was a pale, fragile woman.
Caleb broke free from Laura's grip and ran to his mother.
"Mommy, wake up!" Caleb cried, shaking her shoulders.
The woman slowly opened her eyes, coughing violently as she tried to sit up.
"Caleb, I told you to run," she whispered weakly.
Laura knelt beside her and checked her pulse, finding it terrifyingly slow.
"My name is Laura, and this is Detective Harlan," she explained gently.
"We are here to get you out of this nightmare."
The woman looked at Mike's badge and immediately started panicking.
"No cops," she gasped, pushing herself away from him.
"The cops are the ones who killed my father last week."
Mike froze, lowering his weapon slowly.
"Your father was Arthur Pendelton?" Mike asked in shock.
The woman nodded, tears streaming down her bruised face.
"He didn't die in a car accident like the news reported."
She pointed a shaking finger at a massive hole smashed into the drywall.
"He hid a safety deposit box key in that wall, and Richard Vincent wants it."
Laura felt the blood drain from her face.
"What is inside the box?" Laura asked.
"A ledger containing the offshore bank accounts of every corrupt politician in this state," the woman said.
May you like
Mike cursed under his breath and looked out the broken front window.
Three black SUVs had just blocked the street, and men with weapons were stepping out.
