PART 2: THE HOUSE WITH POLICE LIGHTS

The entire drive, I tried to convince myself I was being ridiculous.
I laughed quietly at myself.
“Margaret, you’re letting some stranger scare you.”
That was what I told myself.
But my hands stayed tight around the steering wheel.
And every few minutes, I checked the clock.
Twenty minutes.
That number kept repeating in my head.
Daniel’s neighborhood finally appeared.
The familiar streets.
The large houses.
The trees lining the road.
Everything looked normal.
Until I turned onto his street.
And saw the lights.
Red.
Blue.
Flashing against the darkening sky.
Police cars were everywhere.
My stomach dropped.
At first, I refused to believe it.
I slowed down.
Maybe it was a neighbor.
Maybe there had been an accident.
Then I saw the address.
My son’s house.
Daniel’s house.
I slammed the brakes.
A police officer stepped in front of my car.
“Ma’am, stop. Stay in your vehicle.”
I pushed the door open.
“That’s my son’s house.”
The officer immediately moved closer.
“Ma’am, please step back.”
“Where is Daniel?”
He didn’t answer.
That silence terrified me more than any words could have.
I looked past him.
The front door was open.
The porch window was shattered.
Glass covered the steps.
Two paramedics rushed inside carrying medical equipment.
My heart began pounding.
“No…”
I whispered.
“No, no, no…”
Then I saw her.
Marissa.
Daniel’s wife.
She was sitting on the curb.
Her cream sweater was stained.
Her hands were covered in blood.
“Marissa!”
She looked up.
Her eyes were full of fear.
But before I could reach her, an officer stopped me.
“Ma’am, you need to stay back.”
“That’s my family!”
I tried to move forward.
Then a voice came from behind me.
“Mrs. Whitaker?”
I turned.
And froze.
It was him.
The man from the gas station.
The stranger who warned me.
Except now he wasn’t wearing a hoodie.
He was wearing a jacket.
And a detective’s badge was attached to his belt.
My mouth opened.
“You…”
He nodded.
“My name is Detective Aaron Miles.”
I stared at him.
“What is happening?”
His expression became serious.

“I tried to stop you because we believed something was going to happen tonight.”
My heart sank.
“What?”
He looked toward Daniel’s house.
“Your son was supposed to confess something.”
I felt dizzy.
“Confess what?”
Detective Miles hesitated.
May you like
Then he said:
“Something someone wanted to keep hidden.”