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Chapter 6
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The Basement That Didn't Exist Chapter 10
I squeezed Claire’s hand.Her fingers were freezing, but she managed a weak, gentle squeeze back."Mom," she whispered, "I didn't forget the code you taught me.""The defendant, Veronica Smith Caldwell, having been found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment, child abuse, and aggravated assault, is hereby sentenced to death, counts to run concurrently."I sat in the gallery on the day the verdict was read. Claire sat right beside me, her small fingers lightly hooked around the hem of my sleeve.Hearing her sentence, Veronica collapsed in the defendant's box. She couldn't force out the kinds of tears she used to cry for the camera lenses.Next to her, David’s face turned a sickly shade of gray.The judge continued reading."The defendant, David Caldwell, having been found guilty of accomplice to kidnapping, harboring a fugitive, money laundering, and illegal business operations, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment."David jerked his head up. "No!" he yelled, "I was tric
The Basement That Didn't Exist Chapter 9
"Tactical unit in position."Captain Hayes’ voice crackled through the comms headset.I sat inside the mobile command center, my fingertips pressed tightly against the copy of the essay.Chief Morgan stood in front of the live monitoring screens. "Karen, confirm the coordinates."I stared at the abandoned industrial zone marked on the digital map. "The old pharmaceutical plant in the eastern suburbs. The main entrance is a decoy. The underground ventilation shaft is on the west side of the wastewater pool."Captain Hayes’ voice fed back almost instantly. "Found the vent. The hatch has an electronic keypad."I recited the sequence hidden within the text. "Seven, three, zero, two, nine."A few agonizing seconds passed before a soft metallic click echoed through the comms."Access granted," Captain Hayes reported.Behind me, the medical team quietly prepped their stretchers.I glued my eyes to the screen, terrified to even blink.Chief Morgan shot me a gentle look. "You don't
The Basement That Didn't Exist Chapter 8
"Who actually wrote that essay?" Captain Hayes asked, placing the scanned document down on the table.I pointed directly at the tiny crescent moon drawn in the bottom right corner. "Claire."Chief Morgan nodded in agreement. "The ID registered for the contest wasn't listed under Claire's real name. It was a fraudulent identity controlled by the Smiths."Captain Hayes frowned, his eyebrows pulling tight. "Why would they force her to do that?"I explained, "The Smiths’ network isn't just running a human trafficking ring. They sell stolen identities, fake school trans, and high test scores. After they took Claire, they realized she had a photographic memory, so they forced her to take exams and contests as a proxy."David gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching hard. "Nonsense!"Chief Morgan slid a tran of an interrogation right in front of him. "The Smiths’ driver had already confessed. Claire was kept locked up in an isolated prep facility on the outskirts of town. Sending her into t
The Basement That Didn't Exist Chapter 7
"Karen, don't think for a second that a piece of paper gives you the right to turn everything upside down."Even trapped in the hospital corridor, David stood with his back straight."I'm David Caldwell. Half the development projects in this city belong to me. You dare cuff me today, and someone will strip those badges off your chests tomorrow."Captain Hayes simply raised his hand. "Restrain him."Two officers immediately pinned David down.David laughed, a raw sound born of pure, hysterical rage. "William Hayes, just you wait!"Captain Hayes' voice remained flat and emotionless. "I'll wait for the formal indictment."Veronica pointed a trembling finger at me. "That classified file is a fake! If she really had that kind of security clearance, why would she let herself get dragged online like a total loser for three years after her daughter went missing?"Her words planted a seed of doubt in the room.David's mother had also been brought in for questioning. The moment she la
The Basement That Didn't Exist Chapter 6
"Professor Miller is still livestreaming."A young officer passed the tablet to Captain Hayes.On the screen, a renowned criminal psychologist was facing the camera, letting out a heavy sigh."People like Karen are extremely dangerous," the expert declared, "She uses a calm demeanor to mask her guilt. The fact that the basement entrance was moved doesn't change the reality that she abused her daughter over a long period.""Has he ever met me?" I asked.The young officer gave an awkward shake of his head. "No.""Has he ever met the girl?""No, he hasn't."I turned my eyes toward Captain Hayes. "So, is he analyzing psychology, or is he just chasing clicks?"Captain Hayes didn't smile. "We'll deal with false statements," he said simply.Word came in from the hospital that the girl had finally woken up.Captain Hayes brought me over for identification.Through the glass panel of the hospital room, the moment the girl saw me, she yanked the blanket all the way up to her chin. "D
The Basement That Didn't Exist Chapter 5
"Captain Hayes, request a ground-penetrating radar survey."I slipped the document back into its protective folder, leaving only the disclosable structural serial number visible.Captain Hayes pivoted on his heel instantly. "Tech team, call state headquarters for immediate support!"Mr. Brooks’ face had drained to a ghastly, translucent white, but he still tried to hold his ground. "Even with a specialized foundation, that doesn't prove there isn't any hollow space down there!"I looked straight at him. "A sixteen-inch solid cast slab, military-grade reinforced concrete, sealed on all four sides with high-pressure grout. Tell me, Mr. Brooks—who on earth could dig underneath my living room floor?"Mr. Brooks’ lips parted, but no sound came out.David’s voice dropped to a harsh, icy sneer. "Since when do you get to make the call on technical expertise just because you brought a few pieces of paper?"Captain Hayes rounded on him. "Mr. Caldwell, shut your mouth."David’s expression
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