Chapter 2 - The Silent House
The taxi left Rachel at the end of the driveway at eleven forty-eight.
The house appeared almost completely dark.
Only a faint glow showed through the upstairs hallway window.
Rachel paid the driver, pulled her suitcase toward the front door, and searched for her keys.
She noticed Michael’s car parked near the garage. Behind it sat a dark van with no company name on the side.
She assumed it belonged to a neighbor or someone visiting across the street.
Inside, the house felt strangely cold.
Rachel placed her handbag near the entry table.
“Michael?” she called softly.
No answer came.
The living room had been disturbed. Two empty spaces showed where decorative tables had once stood. The large painting above the fireplace was missing.
Rachel stared at the pale rectangle left on the wall.
Michael had mentioned nothing about redecorating.
She moved toward the kitchen, pulling her suitcase behind her. One wheel caught on the edge of the patterned runner, making a sharp clicking sound.
That was when she saw the shape on the floor.
Rachel stopped breathing.
A small body lay curled beside the kitchen island beneath a cream blanket.
“Emily?”
She released the suitcase and hurried forward.
Emily’s head rested on an olive-colored pillow. Her dark hair covered part of her face. One bare foot extended beyond the blanket.
Rachel dropped to her knees.
“Emily, sweetheart.”
She placed two fingers gently against Emily’s neck, then rested a hand near her shoulder. Her daughter’s breathing was slow and even.
There were no visible injuries.
But there were dark circles beneath her eyes.
Rachel brushed the hair from Emily’s face.
“Why are you sleeping here?”
Emily stirred but did not wake fully.
“Dad said I couldn’t go upstairs,” she murmured.
Rachel’s stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“The project.”
“What project?”
Emily’s eyelids fluttered.
“He said not to ask.”
A dull thud sounded from the hallway.
Rachel looked up.
May you like
At the far end, a narrow line of warm light glowed beneath Emily’s bedroom door.
Then came the unmistakable sound of furniture scraping across the floor.
