Chapter 8 - Four Children and a Blue Door
Miriam sat at Leah's table with a cup of tea she never touched.
Noah played in the next room with Amir's sister, who had offered to help with childcare.
The adults kept their voices low.
"At eight that night, the alarm went off," Miriam said.
"Rachel was on the second floor getting kids into the stairwell. She carried a little girl with an injured ankle."
"Was Noah there?" Leah asked.
"No. Rachel had sent him to my daughter across the street earlier. She said she had a meeting and didn't want him waiting around."
Leah closed her eyes.
At least Rachel had kept him out of the building.
"We got four children to the front exit," Miriam continued.
"Rachel went back when she heard someone calling for help. The west door should've been the shortest way out."
"Did you see who blocked it?" Price asked.
"No. But I saw Vivian's black car leave just before the alarms."
Holt was careful.
"A car leaving isn't proof of a crime."
"I know what I saw. I also know what I heard."
Miriam's voice shook.
"Rachel kept saying, 'Open the blue door.' Someone inside told her, 'Orders are orders.'"
Leah gripped the edge of her chair.
"Who answered her?"
"I couldn't see. The door was at the end of the hall."
Price thanked Miriam and promised to take a formal recorded statement.
After she left, Leah found Noah in his bedroom, putting a tiny toy astronaut into Pilot's arms.
"I miss Mommy," he said without looking up.
"Me too."
"She said scared people can still do good things."
Leah sat beside him.
"She was right."
Noah took an old school folder from under his pillow.
A blue paper star was taped to the cover.
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"Mommy said this was for you after our space project," he said.
"I was afraid you'd cry if I gave it to you."
