Chapter 2 - The Room Beneath Daniel’s House
Detective Sarah Nolan separated them within minutes.
Lauren was taken to the library. Robert and Margaret were moved to the kitchen. Daniel was handcuffed in the hallway. Michael was placed against the dining-room wall while a paramedic checked the cut above his eyebrow.
Lauren kept asking one question.
“Where is Emily?”
Nobody answered fast enough.
Finally Nolan crouched in front of her.
“We found your daughter alive near Mill Creek Road.”
Lauren’s knees weakened.
“Where?”
“County General. She has a head injury, bruising, and a cut on her arm. She’s conscious, but confused.”
“I’m going to her.”
“In a minute.”
“No. Now.”
Nolan’s expression remained calm. “Mrs. Carter, I need thirty seconds.”
Lauren stared at her.
“The locked room beneath Daniel’s house contained personal items that may belong to Hannah.”
Lauren’s stomach twisted.
“What items?”
“Clothing. Photographs. A backpack. The necklace.”
“That’s impossible.”
“I wish it was.”
Lauren stood. “Daniel lived in that house nine years ago.”
“Yes.”
“So did his wife.”
“His ex-wife, Rebecca, says she never knew the room existed.”
Lauren blinked.
Nolan continued. “The door was hidden behind shelving in the basement. It had a keypad lock.”
Lauren looked through the library doorway.
Daniel was still in the hall with his hands cuffed behind him.
He looked terrified.
Good, she thought.
Let him be terrified.
“What about Michael?”
“We’re still establishing what happened tonight.”
“He came home wearing someone else’s blood.”
“Yes.”
“And he knew about Hannah.”
Nolan paused.
“That’s what we need to determine.”
Lauren moved before Nolan could stop her.
She crossed the hallway and stood in front of Michael.
The officer beside him shifted, ready to intervene.
Lauren ignored him.
“Did you know Hannah was in Daniel’s basement?”
Michael’s eyes filled with pain.
“No.”
“Did you know that room existed?”
His silence answered first.
Lauren slapped him.
The crack echoed through the house.
Robert shouted her name.
Michael didn’t move.
“You knew.” Lauren’s voice shook. “For nine years, you knew something.”
“I knew there was a room.”
“What was in it?”
“I never went inside.”
“Why not?”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Because Daniel told me what happened there would destroy this family.”
Lauren laughed once.
It came out broken.
“You let me search for my daughter for nine years.”
“I thought Hannah had run away.”
“You watched me print missing-person flyers.”
“I know.”
“You held me when I couldn’t sleep.”
“I know.”
“You lied to my face every day.”
His voice dropped. “Yes.”
Daniel suddenly shouted from the hallway.
“Stop talking, Michael!”
Every head turned.
Detective Nolan walked toward him.
Daniel’s breathing became rapid.
“Lawyer,” he said. “I want a lawyer.”
Michael looked at his brother.
Then he said something that made Daniel go completely still.
“You should’ve asked for one nine years ago.”
Lauren stared between them.
May you like
And for the first time, Daniel looked less afraid of the police than he did of Michael.
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