Chapter 4 - THE POLICE ARRIVE
Blue and red lights flashed across the bedroom walls.
Lily remained asleep.
Emma heard officers entering the house.
"Police department!"
Margaret immediately stepped away from the doorway.
Richard raised both hands.
The stranger disappeared down the hall.
Emma kept her phone pressed to her ear.
"He's leaving," she whispered.
The dispatcher told her to remain inside.
Two officers appeared at the bedroom doorway.
Emma nearly collapsed with relief.
"Are you Emma Carter?"
"Yes."
"Is your daughter okay?"
Emma looked at Lily.
"She's okay."
One officer entered.
The other remained in the hallway.
Margaret approached.
"This is a family misunderstanding."
The officer looked at her.
"Then you can explain everything downstairs."
Margaret's confidence returned.
"Of course."
Emma shook her head.
"No."
The officer looked at her.
Emma pointed toward the hallway.
"That man who was here left through the back."
The officer immediately turned.
"Who was he?"
"I don't know."
Margaret interrupted.
"He's a family consultant."
Emma stared at her.
"A consultant?"
Margaret said nothing.
The officer asked whether Emma knew him.
"No."
The second officer returned.
"He left through the rear entrance."
The first officer's expression became serious.
"Ma'am, we'd like to speak with you privately."
Emma nodded.
She looked down at Lily.
"Can I take her with me?"
"Absolutely."
Emma lifted her daughter carefully.
Lily woke halfway.
"Mommy?"
Emma kissed her forehead.
"I'm here."
The little girl wrapped her arms around Emma's neck.
Downstairs, the officers discovered Daniel's laptop.
It was exactly where Emma had left it.
One officer opened the screen.
The hidden folder was still there.
But something had changed.
The files were disappearing.
Someone was remotely deleting them.
Emma stared at the screen.
"That's what they were trying to erase."
The officer immediately unplugged the computer.
Margaret's face went white.
Then Emma heard the sound of tires outside.
May you like
A black SUV stopped at the curb.
Daniel had arrived.
