Chapter 7 - The Elevator Chimes
The cheerful, high-pitched chime of the private elevator felt entirely surreal contrasted against the horrifying scene inside the penthouse. Leo clutched the phone to his ear, his whole body shaking as he stood frozen on the balcony threshold, staring past Clara’s motionless, blood-soaked body into the dark expanse of the living room.
"Leo, stay where you are! The police are stepping out of the elevator right now!" Margaret shouted into the phone, the sound of echoing footsteps and slamming car doors audible in the background as she sprinted through the underground parking structure. "I'm right behind them in the stairwell!"
Heavy, urgent footsteps thundered down the private hallway inside the apartment. Shouted commands rang out through the open living room space.
"Police! Nobody move! Drop whatever you're holding!" a gruff, authoritative male voice boomed, followed immediately by the harsh click of a flashlight sweeping across the walls.
Leo shrank back against the balcony railing, his light blue pajamas offering no defense against the biting wind. Through the open sliding door, he watched two uniformed police officers rush into the living room with their service weapons drawn. Their flashlights cut through the dim interior light, illuminating the scattered furniture, the muddy work boots near the kitchen island, and finally, Clara’s collapsed body.
"Officer down! We need an ambulance at the penthouse immediately!" the first officer barked into his shoulder radio, dropping to his knees beside Clara and pressing two fingers against the side of her neck. "She's alive, but barely. Pulse is thready. Get paramedics up here now!"
The second officer scanned the room with narrowed eyes, his weapon raised as he checked the perimeter. His gaze locked onto the balcony doorway, landing squarely on seven-year-old Leo, who stood shivering in the open night air.
"Hey, kid. Stay right there. Don't move a muscle," the officer instructed firmly, though his tone softened slightly when he realized the boy was only in pajamas. He stepped out onto the balcony, gently taking Leo by the shoulders and guiding him away from the threshold, safely out of the cold draft and into the warmth of the living room.
"My... my grandma is coming," Leo stammered, his teeth chattering so hard he could barely form the words. "She's downstairs."
"It's okay, buddy. You're safe now," the officer said, crouching down to meet Leo at eye level. "Can you tell me what happened? Who was in here with you and Clara?"
Leo opened his mouth to speak, ready to mention the muddy work boots and the heavy crash, but before he could utter a single word, a loud, agonizing groan echoed from the master bedroom down the dark hallway.
The officer’s head snapped toward the hallway. He instantly raised his weapon again, signaling his partner.
"Stay behind me, kid," the officer whispered sharply.
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They slowly advanced toward the open master bedroom door. As they reached the threshold, the beam of the flashlight illuminated a horrifying sight tied to a chair in the center of the room.
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