Creed nods, then types the code in.
A green light flickers.
We’re in…
The heat isn’t on. It isn’t as cold inside as it is outside, but it’s below freezing.
“Greer!” Creed shouts.
There’s still an eerie silence. “Creed, you should wait outside.”
“Not going to happen. If she’s dead, I’ll handle it.”
Seeing a body leaves a mark on you. This one would be hard, but…it could be worse. Greer better not be dead. “Fine, but if you need to tap out—”
“I won’t.”
“We’ll go room by room together.” This way, I can be there just in case.
The living room is clear. The ashes aren’t even warm anymore. It’s been cold in here for a long time.
The dining room is clear.
With each room we go through, my stomach clenches tighter.
“Kitchen clear,” Creed says.
Off the formal dining room is a hallway that leads to three bedrooms and a bath. They’re probably empty, but since we’re already here, we split up.
“Clear,” Creed shouts
“Clear.” This one is used as an office…those papers are probably for the winter festival. I don’t even care if she stole from us at this point. She better be alive.
“Clear.”
“Clear.”
“There’s a hallway on the other side of the house.” Creed dashes off.
I want to run, but I don’t want to know what we’re going to find. We should have checked hours ago.
Why did I let my anger stop me from checking on another human being?
“DAD!” Creed’s voice sends a chill down my spine.
He stopped in front of French doors that lead off from a hallway. Is she dead in there?
A nursery.
This is a nursery. A soft, perfectly blue nursery.
“Baby?”
Creed shakes his head. “It’s empty.”
Did she lose a baby? Is she pregnant?
Is it Bram’s?
