Chapter 4 - The Men in the Black SUV
The rear door of the black SUV opened slowly.
A tall man stepped onto the pavement wearing a charcoal suit and dark gloves. He did not look toward Margaret's house immediately. Instead, he adjusted his cuffs, scanned both ends of the street, and spoke quietly into a device hidden beneath his collar.
Arthur moved away from the window.
"Close the curtains."
Margaret did as he said, though her hands trembled.
"Who are they?"
Arthur did not answer at once. He crossed the hallway, checked the back door, then examined every window as if he had done this many times before.
"They work for people who believe the key belongs to them."
"What does it open?"
"Something Eleanor protected with her life."
The words struck Margaret harder than she expected.
"You said she didn't disappear."
"She didn't."
"Then where is she?"
Arthur lowered his eyes.
"That answer is more complicated."
A heavy knock sounded at the front door.
Margaret froze.
Three sharp strikes.
Not polite.
Not patient.
Arthur leaned close.
"Do not show them the key. Do not mention the blanket. And whatever they tell you, do not believe they came because of Daniel."
Margaret's breath caught.
"My son?"
Another knock followed.
A man's voice called from outside.
"Mrs. Ellis, we need to speak with you regarding your granddaughter."
Margaret instinctively moved toward the door, but Arthur caught her wrist.
"That is how they gain entry."
"What if something happened to her?"
"Then Rebecca would call you. Not strangers in an unmarked vehicle."
The knocking stopped.
For several seconds, the house became silent.
Then Margaret heard footsteps move along the side path.
"They're checking the back," Arthur whispered.
He opened a narrow door beneath the staircase.
Margaret had always used the space for cleaning supplies, but Arthur pushed aside a wooden panel she had never noticed.
Behind it was a small passage.
Margaret stared.
"How did you know this was here?"
"Your husband built it."
"My husband?"
Arthur gave her no time to question him.
They squeezed into the hidden corridor just as the back door rattled violently.
The passage led beneath the kitchen and ended at a rusted hatch in the garden shed.
Arthur climbed out first.
Margaret followed, clutching the wooden box beneath her coat.
From inside the house came the sound of breaking glass.
Someone had entered.
Arthur led her through the neighboring garden toward an old delivery van parked in the alley.
As they climbed inside, Margaret looked back.
The tall man stood at her bedroom window.
He held the blue blanket in his hands.
Then he lifted a phone and said something Margaret could not hear.
Arthur started the engine.
"They know the compartment was opened."
Margaret tightened her grip on the box.
"And now?"
May you like
Arthur drove away without turning on the headlights.
"Now they will search for the only place the key can be used."
