Chapter 8 - The Wrong Rescue
Naomi reached the window before anyone could stop her. In the SUV's rear seat, a child in a pink jacket pressed her palm against the glass. Eli made a sound like he'd been punched.
"Sadie," he breathed.
June grabbed her phone. "I'm calling the real police."
"They'll drive away before anybody gets here," Eli said.
Naomi studied the driveway. The SUV faced the street. Its engine was running. Between the garage and the house stood Eli's old pickup, its bed loaded with broken patio chairs.
"Can your truck still move?" she asked.
"Barely."
"That's enough."
Tess tossed her the keys. Eli climbed into the pickup as Naomi ran along the side fence. She could hear the man at the door shouting now. June stepped onto the porch with her phone raised.
"I'm live," June announced. "Tell me your names."
The man backed away from the camera. A second man started toward the SUV. Eli slammed his pickup into reverse and blocked the driveway with a crunch of steel. The SUV hit the pickup and stalled.
Naomi yanked open the rear door. Sadie launched herself into her arms. A gloved hand closed on Naomi's shoulder. She twisted, hit the man with her elbow, and ran with the girl until Tess met them at the side gate.
Sirens sounded in the distance. The two men abandoned the SUV and escaped through a neighbor's yard.
Sadie trembled against her father. "They said you got hurt, Daddy. They said they were taking me to the hospital."
Eli held her so tightly he could barely speak. "I'm here. I'm right here."
Naomi wished her mother could come through a door and say those words.
When officers arrived, June showed them her livestream. One recognized Weller's partner from a private security firm that had contracts with Sterling Properties. The officer promised to file a report. June made him repeat that promise on camera.
Eli returned to the workbench with his daughter beside him. He wrote an archive number on paper and handed it to Naomi.
"The logs won't show who pressed the button," he said. "They'll show whose credentials were used. That's where you start."
Below the number he added two letters: G.S. and V.S.
May you like
Naomi's phone buzzed. A message from Ruby Bell, the girl her mother had saved, filled the screen.
DANNY REMEMBERS WHO WAS AT THE DOOR. HE'S SCARED TO TELL YOU.
