Chapter 9: The House Where Nobody Was Supposed to Return
The farmhouse stood at the end of a narrow dirt road.
Tall weeds covered the front yard, and the wooden porch sagged beneath years of neglect.
A rusted mailbox leaned toward the road.
The name Parker had been scratched off its side.
Two police vehicles were positioned behind a line of trees.
Officers watched the property through binoculars.
Daniel arrived in a separate vehicle with Hank and Marcus after Officer Bennett finally agreed that he could accompany the investigation under police supervision.
Linda and Ethan remained at the motel with another officer.
Daniel stared at the house.
“I haven't been here in eleven years.””
Hank looked toward the porch.
“Your father's place?””
Daniel nodded.
“He built it himself. Every room.””
“Why did he leave?””
Daniel swallowed.
“He said he wanted a fresh start. Then he disappeared from our lives.””
Hank turned.
“Did you ever find out why?””
“No.””
Daniel looked at the farmhouse again.
“Maybe we're about to.””
Officer Bennett approached with a radio.
“The man outside is armed. We believe it's Ray.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Where's Rebecca?””
“We don't know.””
“Then we need to find her.””
“I'm aware.””
A negotiator began speaking through a loudspeaker.
“Ray Mitchell! This is the police. Put down your weapon and step away from the building!””
The man outside disappeared through the front door.
A moment later, a curtain moved.
Someone was watching them.
Hank studied the upper windows.
“There's another entrance on the side.””
Officer Bennett nodded.
“We've got two units covering it.””
Daniel suddenly noticed something near the barn.
A small white vehicle sat behind the building.
He recognized it.
“That's Samuel's car.””
Officer Bennett looked at him.
“Are you sure?””
“Absolutely.””
“Then the doctor may be inside.””
The loudspeaker sounded again.
“Ray, we need to talk.””
A voice answered from inside the house.
“You people need to leave!””
Officer Bennett responded.
“We're here to make sure everyone is safe.””
“You don't know what you're dealing with!””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Ray!””
Officer Bennett grabbed his arm.
“Don't.””
But Daniel shouted again.
“Ray! I know Thomas is alive!””
The house went completely silent.
Then a window opened.
Ray appeared behind it.
His face was pale.
“You have no idea what you're talking about!””
Daniel pointed toward the house.
“Then bring him outside!””
Ray disappeared.
Hank looked at Daniel.
“Why did you say that?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Because Samuel said Thomas didn't die. If Ray believes we know, he'll make a mistake.””
For nearly a minute, nothing happened.
Then a woman's voice came from inside.
“DANIEL!””
Rebecca.
Linda's sister.
Daniel's heart jumped.
“Rebecca! It's Daniel!””
“Don't come inside!””
A loud crash followed.
Then a gunshot.
Everyone ducked.
Officer Bennett shouted orders.
“Take cover!””
Daniel dropped behind a police vehicle.
Hank pulled him down.
“Stay low!””
Another shot struck the wooden porch.
Marcus looked toward the side of the building.
“Something's happening near the barn.””
A police officer radioed that a second person had been spotted leaving the rear entrance.
A man wearing a dark jacket was running toward the tree line.
“Suspect fleeing!””
Two officers pursued him.
Daniel recognized the jacket.
“Samuel!””
He stood.
Hank grabbed his arm.
“Daniel, wait!””
But Samuel had stopped near the barn.
He turned toward them.
His hands were raised.
“Don't shoot! I'm surrendering!””
Officer Bennett approached with another officer.
They searched him and brought him toward the police vehicles.
Daniel walked closer.
“Where is Rebecca?””
Samuel looked exhausted.
“Inside.””
“Is she hurt?””
“She's alive.””
“Where's Ray?””
Samuel lowered his eyes.
“Upstairs.””
Officer Bennett looked at him.
“Why did you run?””
Samuel swallowed.
“Because Ray told me he would kill my daughter if I cooperated.””
“Where is your daughter?””
Samuel began shaking.
“I don't know.””
Daniel stared at him.
“You told me she was being held.””
“She was. At least, I thought she was.””
“What does that mean?””
Samuel looked toward the farmhouse.
“Ray sent me a photograph. It was taken six months ago. He said if I ever went to the police, my daughter would disappear.””
Officer Bennett frowned.
“Did you ever see proof she was alive?””
Samuel shook his head.
“No.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“You helped him destroy my life because of a photograph?””
Samuel looked up.
“I thought he would kill her.””
“And what about Ethan?””
Samuel began crying.
“I didn't know about the boy.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“You signed a document saying I was dead.””
“I know.””
“You told my wife I had died.””
“I know.””
“You helped steal my son's father.””
Samuel lowered his head.
“I know.””
Officer Bennett interrupted.
“Save the explanations for the station. We need to locate the hostage.””
She turned toward the farmhouse.
Then a second officer emerged from the side entrance.
“Rebecca is secure!””
Daniel exhaled.
“Is she okay?””
“She has injuries, but she's conscious.””
A stretcher was brought around the building.
Rebecca was carried outside.
Her eyes found Daniel immediately.
“Where's Linda?””
“She's safe.””
Rebecca began crying.
“Thank God.””
Daniel crouched beside her.
“Who did this?””
Rebecca looked toward the house.
“Ray.””
“What happened?””
She struggled to speak.
“Thomas found out about the insurance policy. He refused to sign the papers. Ray brought Samuel to the farmhouse.””
Daniel frowned.
“And then?””
“Thomas threatened to go to the police. Ray attacked him.””
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
“Did he kill him?””
Rebecca closed her eyes.
“I thought he did.””
“What do you mean?””
She looked directly at him.
“Because I heard Thomas begging him to stop. Then Ray dragged someone out of the house.””
Daniel swallowed.
“Who?””
Rebecca's voice dropped.
“I never saw his face.””
Officer Bennett leaned closer.
“Did you see a body?””
Rebecca nodded.
“Yes. They put him in the back of a truck.””
“Was it Thomas?””
Rebecca shook her head.
“I don't think so.””
Daniel looked toward the farmhouse.
“Where is Thomas now?””
Rebecca stared at him.
“He was in the cellar.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
“He was alive when they locked him down there. I heard him knocking against the floor every night.””
Officer Bennett immediately radioed the officers inside.
“Search the cellar. Now!””
Two officers entered the house.
Another moved around the back.
Then a loud voice came through the radio.
“We've found a hidden entrance!””
Daniel looked toward the farmhouse.
A moment later, the officers emerged carrying an elderly man.
His clothes were filthy.
His hair was long and gray.
His face was thin, and he could barely stand.
But his eyes were open.
Rebecca began sobbing.
“Thomas!””
The old man looked toward her.
Then his eyes settled on Daniel.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Finally, he whispered:
“Daniel?””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Dad?””
The old man's lips trembled.
“I thought Ray had killed you.””
Daniel dropped to his knees beside him.
“Dad, you're alive.””
Thomas gripped his son's jacket with surprising strength.
“Listen to me.””
Daniel leaned closer.
“What?””
Thomas looked around nervously.
“Ray isn't the one who planned everything.””
Daniel frowned.
“Then who?””
Thomas's eyes moved toward Samuel.
Then toward the officers.
Finally, he whispered:
“The insurance money was only the beginning.””
Daniel felt a chill.
Thomas grabbed his wrist.
“There's someone else. Someone who has been controlling Ray since before you disappeared.””
“Who?””
Thomas tried to speak.
But suddenly, his body stiffened.
He looked over Daniel's shoulder.
His face turned white.
“No,” he whispered.
Daniel turned.
A black luxury SUV had stopped at the end of the driveway.
A woman stepped out.
She wore an expensive cream-colored coat and carried a small leather handbag.
She looked toward the police officers.
Then she smiled.
Thomas began shaking.
“It's her.””
Daniel stared at the woman.
“Who?””
His father tightened his grip.
“Your mother.””
Daniel couldn't move.
His mother had supposedly died fourteen years earlier.
Thomas looked directly into his son's eyes.
“She knows everything, Daniel.””
The woman began walking toward them.
May you like
And when she reached the police barricade, she spoke calmly.
“I'm here to take my grandson home.””
