Chapter 11 - THE CLOSED GARAGE
Bennett Auto & Repair sat behind a chain-link fence on the edge of town.
The sign was sun-bleached. Weeds split the concrete.
From the road, the place looked dead.
It wasn’t.
Dana saw fresh tire marks under the side awning.
Officers entered through the office.
The front room was empty.
So was the repair bay.
Then someone heard knocking.
Three weak taps.
Pause.
Three more.
They followed the sound to a locked parts room behind the old hydraulic lift.
“Police! Call out!”
A woman answered.
“Here.”
Dana kicked the door once.
An officer used a pry bar.
Inside, Erin Bennett sat on the floor with her wrists zip-tied in front of her.
Her lip was split. A bruise darkened one cheek.
But she was awake.
“My kids,” she said immediately. “Where are my kids?”
“They’re safe.”
Erin started sobbing.
“Caleb?”
“At the hospital. He’s stable.”
“Mia?”
“She got him there.”
Erin covered her face.
“No. No, she shouldn’t have had to—”
Dana crouched beside her.
“Who brought you here?”
“Travis.”
“Was anyone helping him?”
Erin looked toward the doorway.
“My mother.”
Dana’s jaw tightened.
“Carol was here?”
“She didn’t tie me up.”
“But?”
“She came last night. Travis wanted me to sign papers giving him control of Ben’s insurance trust and the survivor benefits. Mom kept saying, ‘Just sign it so he calms down.’”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Erin’s eyes filled with terror.
“Then Travis left.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know. He said he had to fix the problem at the hospital.”
Dana stood fast.
“What problem?”
Erin looked at her.
“My children.”
May you like
Dana grabbed her radio.
At that exact moment, the hospital lost power.
