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Home / Mystery/Thriller Short Story / Missing Child Case: I Put My Neighborhood on Trial / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Missing Child Case: I Put My Neighborhood on Trial: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

12 Chapters

Chapter 1

Three minutes ago, the residents' group chat was still full of polite concern."@801SophiaW, have you found Zeke yet? We're all really worried.""Just say the word if you need help, Sophia. We'll even raise funds for you.""Has management checked the surveillance? What did the cops say?"I leaned against the cold wall, staring at those caring messages on my phone.My son, Zeke Murphy, had been missing for 72 hours. Three days—the golden window for rescue was slipping away second by second.According to the police, the cameras showed Zeke for the last time in the first-floor lobby. He waved, as if greeting someone he knew, then skipped happily into the elevator of Block B.Our building, Grand Summit Residence, was one of the most upscale residential complexes in the city. Security was tight, and one needed facial recognition just to get in or out.The police checked every visitor record and found nothing, which meant the person who took Zeke had been one of the residents. They w

Chapter 2

Ten minutes later, the sound of police sirens rose from downstairs.Officer Holt, leading the team, shouted up through a megaphone, "Stay calm, Sophia Watson! What you're doing is a serious crime! Restore the building systems immediately. We can talk about everything!"I walked over to the window and pulled it open just a crack. Below, red and blue lights flashed.Police tape had already been set up. Reporters who had caught wind of the situation swarmed like sharks that smelled blood, trying to break past the line.I didn't respond to Officer Holt. Instead, I sent a second message to the residents' group chat."Everyone, I know you're innocent, and I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want my son, Zeke, to be back. From now on, I need you to do three things."First, knock on each other's doors and make sure everything is normal. Second, think carefully—did you see anyone or hear anything unusual between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm three days ago?"Finally, send any clues to me, or pass

Chapter 3

The first hour of the countdown ended.In the residents' group chat, a dozen or so tips came in, though I could hardly determine their validity. More importantly, none of them pointed to Zeke.Mr. Cooper sent an angry emoji. "Time's up, Sophia! What the hell do you want now?"Many others chimed in, convinced I was just baffling. I didn't reply. Instead, I dropped a link in the group. It led to a cloud folder with a single video file.The thumbnail showed Mr. Cooper and a new female intern from his company… at his very office lounge. It happened when his wife went abroad last week to visit their daughter.Before long, the whole building could hear the roaring and smashing coming from Unit 1502.I typed the next message calmly, "@2101DocLynch, you have 59 minutes left."Dr. Lynch from Unit 2101 was a famous cardiac surgeon in the city, often appearing on TV.He immediately replied in the group, "Ms. Watson, I don't know why you're targeting me, but I'm happy to cooperate with the

Chapter 4

My heart started pounding.This marble was the first piece of physical evidence since Zeke disappeared. Why was it on my doorstep? Had he left it himself as a signal, or was the kidnapper taunting me?The janitress.Immediately, I tagged the property manager in the residents' group chat. "Send me the full list and photos of all cleaning staff on duty recently. ASAP!"The property manager, clearly terrified, didn't delay. A few seconds later, a list appeared. The photo showed a janitress named Jane Miller, in her 50s, with a face that looked honest and reliable.I posted the screenshot to the group. "@everyone, does anyone know Ms. Miller? Which floors does she clean? Where is she now?"Replies came in almost instantly."Ms. Miller is very nice and hardworking.""She's responsible for the high-rise section, floors 12 to 22.""I don't think she came in today."A foreboding hit me immediately. I switched screens and began tracking into the citywide traffic monitoring system.My

Chapter 5

My mind went blank, a buzzing emptiness taking over. The trail of clues had been severed again.Officer Holt pressed urgently, "Listen up, Sophia! This is more complicated than we imagined! You need to unlock the building systems immediately and let us get inside to investigate!"Ms. Miller's death may be directly connected to your son's disappearance!"I gripped the phone, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Had I pushed Jane to death? If I hadn't gone public in the group, would she still be alive?No. I forced myself to calm down.Jane's death was too strange. From the moment I found the marble to when the police tracked her down, no more than 30 minutes had passed.Why would she kill herself? Why would a janitress take part in kidnapping a child? Unless… She wasn't the mastermind.Her death was meant to protect someone behind her. But who willingly made that cruel decision?Officer Holt kept urging, "Time is running out, Sophia! If you delay any longer, your son could really

Chapter 6

The group chat erupted in shock."Mrs. Riverson? No way. Her family is usually so low-profile.""Yeah, Mrs. Riverson is a softie. I even saw her helping an elderly man into the elevator last week.""Are you sure about this, Sophia? This can't be it!"Mrs. Riverson herself appeared in the chat soon after. Her avatar was a cute cartoon cat.She sent a pleading emoji. "@801SophiaW, I don't know what you're talking about. Yesterday, Ms. Miller only asked me if she should take out the trash for me."What a perfect explanation. If it weren't for the file Sam had just sent me, I might have actually believed her. The file contained detailed information about her husband.On the surface, Mr. Riverson was just an ordinary clerk. In reality, though, his department held immense power. One project he handled had an approval process directly tied to Mr. Cooper's company.Another case he oversaw required a key witness to have a psychiatric evaluation issued by Dr. Lynch.Mr. Cooper, Dr. Lync

Chapter 7

I made a move no one could've expected. I wrote another message in the group chat."@everyone, the game is paused. I need a helper at Unit 801 to operate the computer. In return, I'll immediately lift all restrictions in their apartment."The group exploded."Has she gone mad?""Who would dare go? What if she's just looking for a scapegoat?""This is definitely a trap."I didn't explain. I just waited quietly.I knew someone would come because the real culprit would want to know more than anyone else what evidence I had. They needed a way to get close to me, to figure out their next move, or even seal my lips for good.Three minutes later, the doorbell rang. I peered through the peephole and froze. Standing there was someone I never expected—Professor Matthew Walker from Unit 1204.He was a man in his 60s, hair streaked with gray, wearing gold-rimmed glasses—a retired professor from a local university, deeply respected by the neighbors.He had been the first to call for every

Chapter 8

"Where's Zeke?" I asked bluntly, my voice icy.Matthew calmly removed his glasses and wiped them with a cloth. "He's in a very safe place. If you cooperate, he'll be back with you in no time.""And how do I cooperate?""Simple," he said, putting his glasses back on. Behind the lenses, his eyes glinted with sharp intelligence."Lift the building lockdown, destroy everything you've collected today, and then announce to everyone that this was all just a misunderstanding.""And what about my son?""You'll reunite with him," he replied lightly. "The cops will bring him back. Everyone gets their happy endings."I sneered. "Professor Walker, do you take me for a kid? If I let you walk out of here today, tomorrow, my son and I could just magically disappear from this world."His expression darkened. "In case I wasn't clear, I'm giving you a chance, Sophia. Don't be ungrateful.""A chance?"I stepped closer, closing the distance. "You kidnapped my son, murdered Ms. Miller, and now you

Chapter 9

In the residents' group chat, everyone was waiting for the third hour to arrive. They expected Mrs. Robinson's secret to be exposed, but what came wasn't gossip but a video.In the video, Matthew was tied to a chair, his face pale as death. My voice echoed through the speakers, reaching every corner of the building."Dear neighbors, the sincerest apologies from me to you. Today's revelations are on hold because I've caught the mastermind who kidnapped my son. He's Professor Walker from Unit 1204."The message hit like an atomic bomb."No freaking way! How could Professor Walker be the kidnapper?""Sophia, have you lost your damn mind?"Almost immediately, a second video was released. It showed the inside of Matthew's apartment, captured by the cameras Sam had just hacked into.In the footage, a seemingly ordinary bookshelf in his study slowly slid open, revealing a hidden chamber.Inside, the room was filled with ancient coins, 16th-century paintings, and medieval statues—every

Chapter 10

Ten minutes later, the lobby of Grand Summit Residence fell into a silent tension.Mr. Cooper, Dr. Lynch, and the Riverson couple stood in the center, their faces as pale as chalk. Around them, armed SWAT officers were on high alert.The massive lobby screen was split into three frames.On the left, Zeke struggled to breathe in the hidden chamber of Unit 1204. In the center, Matthew was tied to a chair in my living room. On the right, a five-minute countdown clock glared in bright red.I didn't appear in person, but my voice echoed through the lobby like a judge's gavel. "Mr. Cooper, why did you give Ms. Miller half a million dollars?"He trembled but tried to keep his composure. "I-I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not even close to her!""Really? Then, how familiar are you with the Tri-Glaze Figurine in Professor Walker's study?" I asked."As far as I know, you spent 15 million at an overseas auction last month to buy it. Too bad, it was a fake. The real one is here,

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