Chapter 8 - The Intercepted Convoy
The dining room went dead silent. The static hiss of the police radio seemed to amplify in the quiet space, echoing off the bare walls where party guests had stood less than an hour ago.
Detective Miller’s hand flew to her shoulder mic. "Unit Four, confirm dispatch. Did you say suspect Vance broke free of custody?"
“Affirmative, Detective. The transport van veered off the cloverleaf ramp after a coordinated collision with an unmarked black SUV. Vance escaped on foot into the drainage culverts near the old river mill. All units in the sector are moving to establish a perimeter.”
Thomas let out a harsh, rasping laugh that held no humor—only the bitter satisfaction of a prophecy fulfilled. "He’s running to the mill. It’s the only place within ten miles with an underground utility tunnel leading back to this property."
Detective Miller didn't waste a second. She pulled out her radio, issuing rapid-fire tactical commands to the arriving backup units. "Lock down the perimeter around the river mill. Bring K-9 units and thermal imaging. Suspect is desperate and armed with whatever he could scavenge from the transport vehicle."
She turned back to Officer Miller. "Stay here with Mr. Vance and the child. I’m heading to the mill."
"Like hell you are going alone," Thomas said, pulling against the zip-ties with surprising strength. "You don't know the layout of those tunnels, Detective. Robert wired them with secondary security shutters and blind corridors. If you go in without someone who lived down there, you'll walk right into his trap."
I stepped forward, clutching my bandaged wrists against my chest. "Detective, let me go with you."
"Absolutely not, Lily," Detective Miller said firmly, her tone leaving zero room for argument. "You are staying right here under police protection until this is over."
"She has a right to see it end," Thomas argued, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that demanded an answer. "And she knows every hidden crawlspace behind the kitchen walls that Robert built when we were kids. She's the only one who can navigate the old servants' passages without setting off the silent alarms."
Detective Miller looked between Thomas and me, her professional hesitation warring with the grim reality of tactical necessity. Time was running out, and every minute Robert Vance remained free was another minute he could slip across state lines or destroy the remaining physical evidence in the underground tunnels.
"If I take you," Detective Miller said slowly, looking directly at me, "you stay behind my shield at all times. Do you understand?"
May you like
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. I reached down, picked up the broken plastic arm of my doll, and slipped it into my pocket like a talisman.
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