Chapter 5 - The Knock on the Door
By midnight, the storm outside had cleared, leaving the Portland sky a vast, glittering expanse of stars.
I sat propped up against three plush pillows in the massive guest bed, wearing a pair of oversized cotton pajamas that belonged to one of Daniel’s nieces. The bowl of soup was completely empty, and only crumbs remained on the plate of cookies.
Josh had peeked in an hour earlier, holding his stuffed bear, before falling asleep in the hallway outside.
Daniel sat in the armchair, a legal pad resting on his knee, scrolling through his phone while keeping a watchful eye on me.
“So,” Daniel said, looking up as I set the empty plate down. “We have a plan, Emma.”
“What plan?” I asked, clutching a corner of the blanket.
“Tomorrow morning, my legal team is going to petition the family court for emergency guardianship,” Daniel explained calmly, his eyes sharp and focused. “We are going to track down this ‘Greg’ character and ensure he faces criminal abandonment charges. And you are going to stay right here. You have your own room, you have a brother who thinks you’re a superhero, and you never have to sleep in a park again.”
I stared at him, my heart swelling with a fragile, terrifying spark of hope. Could it really be that simple? Could a nightmare that lasted three months really be over?
Before I could answer, a sharp, heavy sound echoed through the sprawling house.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
It wasn't a normal knock. It was aggressive, pounding, demanding entry.
Daniel’s head snapped toward the bedroom door. The calm, reassuring warmth in his eyes vanished in a fraction of a second, replaced by a cold, dangerous edge.
“Stay here, Emma,” Daniel ordered quietly, standing up and slipping a sleek silver smartphone from his pocket.
Before he could reach the door, the heavy oak paneling at the end of the hallway splintered inward with a loud crash. Shouts echoed from downstairs, followed by the sound of breaking glass and heavy boots marching across the hardwood floor.
Daniel stepped in front of my bed, spreading his arms wide as shadows spilled into the hallway.
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A sharp, cruel voice rang out from the landing outside:
“Mr. Anderson! Drop the phone! Child Protective Services and the state marshal’s office are executing an immediate removal warrant. Step away from the girl!”
