Chapter 7 - Sirens On The Street
The wail of the police sirens cut through the quiet suburban neighborhood, stopping abruptly right outside the front lawn. Red and blue lights flashed against the living room walls, casting eerie, dancing shadows across the broken wooden floor.
"You ruined everything," Mark whispered, his voice devoid of anger, replaced by a crushing, absolute defeat.
"You ruined it twenty years ago, Mark," Sarah replied, standing tall in her gray suit jacket, her expression hardened into unyielding resolve.
Heavy footsteps crunched on the gravel walkway outside, followed by three sharp knocks on the front door.
"Police! Open up!" a gruff voice commanded through the wood.
Thomas looked at the door, then down at his skeletal hands, and finally back at his brother. The fierce anger that had fueled his escape seemed to drain out of him in a single heavy sigh.
"Let them in, Mark," Thomas said quietly, letting the heavy iron crowbar drop with a dull thud against the ruined subfloor. "It's time the house was opened to the light."
Mark stood frozen, his hands twitching at his sides. The front door handle jiggled as the officers outside tried the latch, finding it unlocked. The door swung open slowly, revealing two uniformed police officers with their hands resting cautiously on their holstered sidearms.
"Stay where you are! Police!" the lead officer barked, stepping into the living room and taking in the shattered teacup, the terrified little girl waiting by the porch, the ruined flooring, and the gaunt man emerging from the earth.
"Officer," Sarah called out, her voice clear and steady. "My husband just confessed to attempted murder and kidnapping."
"Sarah, please," Mark choked out, falling to his knees beside the gaping hole in the floor.
May you like
The officer unclipped his radio, speaking into it with urgent precision. "Dispatch, we have a 211 in progress at 442 Elm Street. Requesting an ambulance and backup immediately."
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