Chapter 3 - THE MAN IN THE HALLWAY
The footsteps became louder.
Emma pulled Lily gently against her.
The bedroom remained brightly lit, almost painfully ordinary.
A family photograph sat on the dresser.
Emma and Daniel had smiled in it.
Lily stood between them.
Emma remembered that day.
Daniel had promised he would always protect them.
Now his family was surrounding her.
A tall man appeared at the top of the stairs.
He wore a dark suit.
Emma didn't recognize him.
Margaret stepped toward him.
"You're early."
The man looked into the bedroom.
Then he saw Emma holding the phone.
His expression changed.
"She called?"
Margaret nodded.
Emma's stomach dropped.
The dispatcher asked who had entered the house.
Emma whispered.
"I don't know."
The stranger looked at Richard.
"Where's Daniel?"
"On his way," Richard replied.
Emma heard the words clearly.
Daniel was coming.
She hadn't known whether he would show up.
Now she knew he was involved.
The stranger stepped closer.
Emma backed toward the wall.
"No."
The man stopped.
"You don't need to be afraid."
"I am not afraid of you."
It wasn't entirely true.
But Emma refused to let them hear fear in her voice.
The dispatcher spoke through the phone.
"Ma'am, officers are approaching your location."
Emma almost cried with relief.
Margaret heard the words.
Her face went pale.
"Everyone needs to leave."
The stranger looked irritated.
"We don't have time."
Richard whispered.
"The police are coming."
Emma finally understood.
This wasn't about controlling her.
It wasn't even about frightening her.
They were trying to get something before the police arrived.
Her eyes moved toward the dresser.
The laptop was still there.
The hidden folder.
The documents.
Everything she had discovered.
The stranger noticed her glance.
His eyes followed it.
Then he understood.
"Where is the laptop?"
Emma said nothing.
Margaret turned toward her.
"Emma."
Emma smiled through her tears.
"It's downstairs."
The stranger shook his head.
"She's lying."
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Everyone froze.
Emma looked directly at Margaret.
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For the first time, she wasn't the trapped woman in the bedroom.
They were.
