Chapter 5 - The Officer’s Warning
The older officer, whose name tag read Miller, immediately motioned for his partner to secure the perimeter while he guided us toward the back of the patrol car out of the biting wind.
“Dispatch put out a priority check on your 911 call about ten minutes ago,” Officer Miller said, pulling a notepad from his pocket as he looked us over with professional concern. “You said your husband administered a substance?”
“We ate dinner, and within twenty minutes, both of us collapsed,” I explained rapidly, my words tumbling over each other as the adrenaline began to wear off and exhaustion threatened to pull me under. “I heard him on the phone in the den saying we wouldn't be a problem after tonight. I have the leftover food right here in this bag.”
I reached into the waistband of my sweatpants and pulled out the sealed freezer bag, handing it to him. Officer Miller took it carefully, holding it up to his flashlight.
“Good thinking, Mrs. Reynolds. We’ll get this straight to forensics,” he said, nodding approvingly. He spoke into his shoulder mic. “Dispatch, be advised, contact made with the victims at the scene. Both conscious, exhibiting signs of mild chemical sedation. Suspect Daniel Reynolds is operating a dark blue sedan, license plate...”
He paused, lowering his mic slightly as he looked down the dark street.
“Officer Miller?” I asked, a sudden, cold knot forming in my stomach. “What is it?”
“We ran the plate as we pulled up, Mrs. Reynolds,” the officer said slowly, his brow furrowing. “Your husband’s vehicle wasn't intercepted heading out of the neighborhood.”
“What do you mean? He drove away. I heard the engine!”
“Our units three blocks down intercepted a dark blue sedan matching that description turning onto the interstate five minutes ago,” Officer Miller said grimly. “Only... it wasn't your husband driving.”
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Before I could ask who was behind the wheel, Officer Miller’s radio squawked to life with a crackling, frantic dispatch voice.
“All units, all units. Be advised. The vehicle intercepted on the interstate was just forced off the road near Exit 42. Suspect Daniel Reynolds is not in custody. In fact... dispatch has received a frantic 911 call originating from Daniel’s cell phone five minutes ago, claiming that his wife and son have been abducted from their home by an armed intruder.”
