“You noticed?”
Ramirez asked.
Carter nodded.
“The daughter.”
“And the mother.”
Ramirez agreed.
“The shaking.”
Carter looked toward the house.
“Something’s wrong.”
Ramirez sighed.
“We don’t have probable cause.”
“No.”
“But we do have a disconnected 911 call.”
She watched the dark windows.
“And my instincts.”
Ramirez respected her instincts.
They had saved lives before.
“I’m requesting a supervisor.”
Inside…
Evan’s cellphone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
Not fear.
Annoyance.
He answered.
“What?”
Silence.
Then…
“When?”
More silence.
His jaw tightened.
“No.”
He stood abruptly.
“I told you never call this number.”
He disconnected.
Mary noticed something.
For the first time all evening…
Evan looked rattled.
He walked toward the living room window.
Pulled the curtain back slightly.
Saw the patrol car still parked across the street.
His face hardened.
He turned toward Danielle.
“We’re leaving.”
Danielle’s breathing quickened.
“Now.”
He grabbed her arm.
Mary stood.
“No.”
He aimed the gun at her.
“I wasn’t asking.”
Then something unexpected happened.
The television, which had been playing quietly in the background all evening, interrupted its program with breaking news.
A local anchor appeared.
“We’re following developing news tonight after federal authorities announced the escape of a violent kidnapping suspect connected to multiple disappearances across Texas and Oklahoma.”
A photograph filled the screen.
Older.
Shorter hair.
Clean-shaven.
But unmistakable.
Evan.
The room became perfectly still.
The reporter continued.
“The suspect is believed to use false identities while targeting young women through romantic relationships. Authorities believe there may be additional unidentified victims.”
Mary slowly looked at Danielle.
Danielle looked like she couldn’t breathe.
She hadn’t known.
Not all of it.
Evan slowly turned toward the television.
Then, without a word…
He shot it.
The deafening explosion shattered the screen.
Glass rained across the living room.
Smoke filled the air.
Outside, Officer Carter’s head snapped toward the house.
“Gunshot!”
Ramirez was already opening his door.
Both officers sprinted toward the front porch.
Inside, Evan grabbed Danielle violently.
“We’re going.”
The front door exploded inward.
“Police!”
Evan didn’t hesitate.
Instead of firing at the officers…
He dragged Danielle toward the back of the house.
Toward the kitchen.
Toward the sliding glass doors leading into the darkness of the backyard.
Mary ran after them.
Ignoring every command to stay down.
Ignoring the shattered glass cutting into her bare feet.
She wasn’t thinking about herself anymore.
Only one thing echoed through her mind.
Not my daughter.
Not tonight.
