Chapter 3: The Red Toolbox
The silver pickup didn’t run the red light.
That would have been easier.
Instead, Ricky sat there with one hand on the steering wheel, watching us.
Watching Emma.
Watching me.
The traffic light changed.
He still didn’t move.
A horn sounded behind him.
Another.
Then the pickup finally rolled forward and disappeared around the corner.
Emma’s fingers were still wrapped around my arm.
“That’s him,” she whispered.
The officer beside us was already reaching for his radio.
“Unit Twelve, suspect vehicle may have changed vehicles. Silver pickup, Tennessee plate unknown, heading west from the QuickMart at—”
“Wait,” I said.
He looked at me.
“I don’t think he’s trying to run.””
“What makes you say that?””
I stared at the road.
“He wanted us to see him.””
The officer’s expression tightened.
“That’s exactly what concerns me.””
He motioned us toward his cruiser.
“Get in.””
Emma climbed into the back seat.
I followed.
The officer slid behind the wheel while his partner took the passenger seat.
The doors locked automatically.
Emma sat between us, staring through the rear window.
“Is he coming back?”” she asked.
The officer looked at her in the mirror.
“We're not going to let him hurt you.””
“That’s not what I asked.””
He paused.
“No.””
Emma looked at me.
“He’s coming back.””
I didn't know what to tell her.
So I told her the truth.
“I think he is.””
She didn't cry.
That scared me more than tears would have.
She just looked out the window and whispered, “He always comes back.””
The cruiser pulled onto the highway.
Within minutes, the station disappeared behind us.
The officer kept both hands on the wheel.
“My name is Detective Mason,” he said.
“The deputy with me is Collins. I need you to tell us everything you remember from last night.””
Emma nodded.
“Start with your mother.””
She swallowed.
“Mommy and Ricky were fighting.””
“About what?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you hear any words?””
“He said she was ruining everything.””
Mason glanced at me in the mirror.
“What else?””
“She told him she was taking me away.””
Collins looked over his shoulder.
“Did she say where?””
Emma shook her head.
“She said we were going somewhere he couldn't follow.””
Mason's jaw tightened.
“Then what happened?””
Emma looked down at her shoes.
“He got mad.””
“Did he hit your mother?””
Emma hesitated.
Then nodded.
“With what?””
“A lamp.””
Collins swore under his breath.
I looked at Emma.
“Did you see it?””
“Yes.””
She rubbed one sleeve between her fingers.
“He hit her here.””
She touched her temple.
“Then Mommy fell down the stairs.””
Mason’s voice became gentler.
“Did Ricky call an ambulance?””
“No.””
“Who did?””
“Me.””
My head turned.
“You called?””
Emma nodded.
“I found Mommy's phone.””
“What happened to the call?””
“He took it away.””
“Did someone answer?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
“A lady.””
“911 operator?””
Emma wasn't sure.
“I said Mommy was hurt.””
“What happened next?””
“Ricky took the phone.””
Mason looked at Collins.
“Dispatch can pull that call.””
Collins nodded.
“I'll request it.””
Emma suddenly looked at me.
“Can I tell you something?””
“Of course.””
“Mommy wasn't just hurt.””
A chill crawled over my shoulders.
“What do you mean?””
“She was scared.””
“Of Ricky?””
Emma shook her head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
She stared at the floor.
“The man in the black jacket.””
The cruiser became very quiet.
Mason asked, “What man?””
“I don't know his name.””
“When did you see him?””
“Before Mommy got hurt.””
“Where?””
“At the house.””
“Was he inside?””
Emma nodded.
“Did he speak to your mother?””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
“I don't remember.””
“You're sure?””
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
“I remember one thing.””
“What?””
“He told Mommy, ‘You should've given us what we asked for.’”
Mason exchanged another look with Collins.
“Us?””
Emma nodded.
“There were two men.””
My hands curled into fists.
Two men.
A hospital.
A missing purse.
A hidden note.
A red toolbox.
And a stepfather who suddenly seemed much more organized than a man acting out of anger.
“Emma,” I said carefully, “what was in the toolbox?””
“I don't know.””
“But you know where it is.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Mommy told me.””
“What did she say?””
“She said if anything happened to her, I should tell David.””
I frowned.
“Who’s David?””
“She said he's the only person who would know what to do.””
Mason looked at me.
“Do you know a David?””
“No.””
My phone buzzed again.
This time, the screen showed a text message from an unknown number.
*YOU’RE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTIONS.*
I showed Mason.
His entire face changed.
“Don't respond.””
Another message arrived.
*ASK WHAT WAS IN THE TOOLBOX.*
Then a third.
*ASK WHY SARAH KEPT IT HIDDEN.*
Emma leaned forward.
“He knows.””
“Who?””
She looked at the phone.
“Ricky.””
Mason took the device.
“We need to get to that hospital.””
The cruiser accelerated.
Fifteen minutes later, we pulled into Volunteer Regional Medical Center.
Two more police vehicles were already there.
Hospital security stood near the emergency entrance.
And behind them, a woman in dark blue scrubs was talking urgently to an officer.
When she saw Emma, her expression changed.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
She hurried toward us.
“Are you Emma?””
Emma nodded.
The woman crouched.
“Your mother is still alive.””
Emma's breath caught.
“She's awake?””
“Not yet.””
The woman glanced toward Mason.
“But she made it through surgery.””
Emma covered her face.
A sob escaped her.
The nurse reached for her hand.
“Your mom is very sick, but she's fighting.””
Emma suddenly looked at me.
I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
“See?””
She nodded.
For the first time since I had met her, some of the fear left her face.
Then Mason asked the nurse, “Who brought Sarah Carter in?””
The nurse hesitated.
“EMS.””
“Who called EMS?””
“I don't know.””
“Was her husband with her?””
“Stepfather?””
The nurse nodded.
“Did a man come in with her?””
“Yes.””
“What did he look like?””
The nurse's eyes narrowed.
“Which man?””
Mason went still.
“Which men were here?””
“There was a man with a black jacket.””
Emma grabbed my hand.
“And another one,” the nurse continued.
“Tall. Brown hair. He stayed maybe ten minutes.””
Mason looked at Collins.
“Did either identify themselves?””
“The tall man said he was family.””
“Name?””
“David.””
My pulse jumped.
Emma squeezed my hand.
“That’s him.””
“The tall man?”” I asked.
She nodded.
“David.””
Mason asked, “Where is he now?””
The nurse pointed down the corridor.
“He was waiting near the family lounge.””
Collins immediately moved.
Mason followed.
“Stay here,” he told us.
But Emma's face suddenly went white.
“Wait.””
Everyone stopped.
“What is it?”” Mason asked.
“David isn't supposed to be here.””
“Why?””
“Because Mommy said he'd come after Ricky.””
Mason frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Emma looked at me.
“He's the one Mommy was hiding from.””
Mason turned.
“What?””
Emma nodded toward the corridor.
“Mommy said David was the only person who knew about the toolbox.””
Then a man's voice drifted from behind us.
“You shouldn't have brought her here.””
We all turned.
A tall man stood at the far end of the hallway.
Black jacket.
Brown hair.
Calm expression.
He wasn't holding a weapon.
He didn't need one.
He was staring directly at Emma.
Then at me.
Then at the note in my hand.
He smiled.
“Sarah always was terrible at keeping secrets.””
Mason drew his weapon.
“Hands where I can see them!””
The man's hands slowly rose.
“Detective, you're making a mistake.””
“Get on your knees.””
The man obeyed.
But his eyes never left Emma.
He smiled again.
“I've been waiting for you, sweetheart.””
Emma pressed against me.
I could feel her trembling.
Then the man said something so quietly that only those closest to him could hear.
“Your mother lied to you.””
Emma's face crumpled.
“No.””
The man tilted his head.
“She told you the toolbox would protect you.””
He looked at me.
“It won't.””
Mason stepped forward.
“What is in the toolbox?””
The man's smile disappeared.
“Something that can put a lot of people in prison.””
Every officer in the hallway went still.
Then the hospital lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
May you like
The corridor went dark.
And somewhere behind us, a metal door slammed shut.
