Chapter 5 - The Key to B-17Marcus reached the hallway before Victor could say another word.

“Mr. Vale,” he said, “I need your contact information and the name of your property manager.”

Victor slid his phone into his pocket. “My attorney will handle that.”

“Good. Then your attorney can explain why a residential vent was blocked.”

Victor stopped smiling altogether. “Choose your accusations carefully, Officer.”

“I haven't made one. Yet.”

After Victor left, Ellie sat cross-legged on a hospital bed, eating crackers as Elena sketched the lane on a notepad.

“The little door,” Elena said. “Is it at your house?”

“Under our house. Behind the washing machine.”

“What did your mom keep there?”

“Her work things. Daddy's red book. A picture of him wearing the shiny helmet.”

“Did your mom ever tell you what B-17 means?”

Ellie nodded. “B is for basement. Seventeen is us. She said if somebody came, take the key, not the book.”

Marcus called Detective Nina Reed, who handled suspicious-property cases. Nina arrived carrying a paper file already swollen with reports. She listened, then frowned.

“Briar Hollow. I've heard that address before.”

“From where?” Marcus asked.

“Code complaints. A tenant died in unit fourteen last winter. The inspection report called it natural causes. The case was closed before we got the coroner's questions.”

Nina requested a warrant while Ben submitted photographs of the vent. The fire department's instrument logs established dangerous gas levels. Somebody had turned a hazardous building into a trap; whether intentionally or recklessly would require proof.

At dusk, a nurse brought word that Noah had stabilized, but Rose still needed close monitoring. Ellie tried to smile and failed.

“Tell Rosie I walked fast,” she said.

“I will,” Andrea promised.

Later, Elena found a folded drawing hidden in the girl's sock. It showed a red basement door, a row of shelves, and a black square with a white circle on it.

“What's this?” Elena asked, pointing to the square.

“The thing Mama said to give the lady with the yellow umbrella.”

“Who is that lady?”

Ellie whispered, “I don't know her name. She never got there.”

At that instant, Nina received a message from an unknown number. It contained a photograph of the hospital nursery door and six chilling words.

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YOU FOUND THE CHILDREN. STOP THERE.