Chapter 17 - A Father's Race Against Time
The command center erupted into controlled chaos.
Maps covered every monitor.
Red dots spread through the tunnel network beneath the neighborhood.
"They're splitting up."
Officer Ramirez zoomed in.
"Six groups."
"No..."
Another analyst corrected him.
"Eight."
Michael watched in disbelief.
"There can't be that many."
Bennett wasn't convinced.
"There may be more."
Then another alarm sounded.
A patrol officer called over the radio.
"Possible intrusion at Helen Turner's residence."
Michael grabbed his jacket.
"Ethan."
Bennett blocked the doorway.
"You stay here."
"My son is there."
"We already have officers outside."
Another transmission interrupted them.
"Front units report negative."
Ramirez frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"No one entered through the doors."
Michael suddenly remembered the blueprint.
"The tunnels."
Bennett's eyes widened.
"The old storm drains."
She immediately ordered every nearby unit toward Helen's house.
Michael refused to remain behind.
He followed the convoy through nearly empty streets.
When they arrived, the front door stood open.
No signs of forced entry.
No broken windows.
Inside, Helen sat trembling on the living room sofa.
"I'm fine."
"Ethan?"
She pointed upstairs.
Michael sprinted toward the bedroom.
The room was empty.
His heart nearly stopped.
Then he heard laughter.
Quiet.
From inside the closet.
He opened the door.
Ethan jumped into his arms.
"I was hiding."
Michael held him tightly.
"Why?"
"The old man told me to."
Michael froze.
"What old man?"
"The one with Grandpa's tattoo."
Every officer in the room looked toward one another.
Michael slowly asked,
"Where is he now?"
Ethan pointed toward the bedroom window.
"He left after saying..."
Michael waited.
"...that Grandpa wants to see you."
At that exact moment, Detective Bennett received another urgent call.
The forensic team had opened the mysterious package recovered from beneath Michael's apartment.
Inside...
They had found dozens of photographs.
Every single one showed Michael.
Taken from impossible angles.
Dating back to his childhood.
The oldest photograph had been taken on the day he was born.
May you like
And standing beside the hospital crib...
Was a man everyone believed had died fifteen years earlier.
