Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Rise From Betrayal: Kabanata 151 - Kabanata 160

4:20 p.m. The interviews began almost immediately. Steve Carter and Dan Reeves worked through the people who had been closest to Emma that afternoon. Maya went in first. Stephanie followed. Adrian came after her. While Stephanie was inside, Adrian sat beside Maya in the hallway, one arm around her shoulders. Maya hadn’t stopped worrying since she got the news. Adrian said nothing. There wasn’t much he could say. A few feet away, Alexander Whitmore sat alone. His elbows rested on his knees, his hands loosely clasped. He hadn’t moved much since arriving. His mind kept returning to the same question. How had everything changed so quickly? Just a few hours ago, Emma had been going about her day as usual. She had been planning lunch. She had chosen the restaurant. She had shared the location. And now no one knew where she was. Alexander looked toward the interview room when the door opened. Steve stepped out. “Mr. Whitmore?” Alexander stood i

8:20 p.m. Alexander drove the last few minutes without turning on the radio. The streets of New Rochelle were quiet. Porch lights glowed behind rows of trees. A few cars moved through the intersections, their headlights briefly cutting across the dark before disappearing around the next corner. Alexander barely noticed any of it. His hands tightened around the steering wheel. He realized it a moment later and consciously loosened them. He turned onto his mother’s street. The house appeared at the end of the road. Two stories. White walls. Blue shutters. A wide wraparound porch with two old wooden rocking chairs beneath the porch light. Lavender grew beneath the front windows, its scent faint in the cool evening air. A small wind chime hung beside the door, moving gently in the breeze. Alexander pulled into the driveway and switched off the engine. For several seconds, he remained behind the wheel. Then he reached for his bag. He had been living here

Dominic Sterling sat beside his son’s crib. Ethan was asleep. The one-month-old baby lay beneath a soft blue blanket, his tiny fingers curled near his cheek. His breathing was slow and even. Dominic watched him. For the first time since yesterday, the house was completely still. No ringing phones. No police officers. No questions. Just the quiet sound of his son’s breathing. Dominic reached into the crib and carefully adjusted the blanket. Ethan stirred. Dominic’s hand froze. The baby’s face tightened for a moment before relaxing again. Dominic smiled faintly. “You’re okay.” His voice was barely above a whisper. He stayed there for another moment. Ethan had no idea what had happened. He didn’t know his mother hadn’t come home. He didn’t know his father had spent the night at the police station. He didn’t know detectives were still searching for her. He only knew that he was warm. Safe. Asleep. Dominic looked away. The guilt returned

The argument had already begun when Dan Reeves walked into the room. “You’re not coming.” Steve Carter stood at the head of the investigation room, his voice leaving no room for negotiation. Dominic Sterling stared at him. “My wife may be inside that building.” “We don’t know that.” “But you know three armed men are inside.” “We know three men were seen entering.” Steve’s voice hardened. “We don’t know who they are. We don’t know what they’re doing. And we don’t know whether either woman is inside.” Alexander stepped forward. “And Emma could be.” Steve looked at him. “I understand.” “No,” Alexander said quietly. “I don’t think you do.” His eyes moved toward Emma’s photograph on the evidence board. “I’ve spent forty-eight hours sitting here while everyone tells me to wait.” His voice remained controlled. “I’m not waiting anymore.” Rowan stood near the table, his arms folded. “I’m going.” Steve looked at him. “Of course you are.” “I’m not going back home without

The officers moved deeper into the warehouse, their flashlights sweeping across concrete walls, rusted machinery, and abandoned rooms. “Left clear.” “Right clear.” “Nothing here.” Steve followed several steps behind, his weapon raised. Dan moved beside him, watching the dark corridors ahead. The warehouse seemed to grow quieter with every step. They had found Emma. They had found Laura. Three suspects were already in custody outside. But the shooter was still somewhere inside. Steve raised one hand, and the officers stopped. Everyone listened. For several seconds, there was nothing but the distant hum of a patrol vehicle outside. Then came a faint movement. An officer turned toward the sound. “Who’s there?” No answer. He took anot