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Amara was silent for a long moment before she nodded and spoke, hushed as if she feared she might be heard by the wrong person. “The door’s open.”
It seemed odd that the door would simply be left ajar as it was, interior light streaming onto the porch and sidewalk. Raneesha was always a careful woman, no doubt a remnant of growing up in a poor neighborhood.
As her own mother had taught her, Raneesha had imparted to Amara the importance of safety and security, even if a little heavy-handedly at times. This neighborhood wasn’t a particularly rough one, though there had been a few instances of people breaking into homes in the past few years. This had set Raneesha on edge, making the open door all the more bizarre.
Amara put the car into gear and eased forward slowly. She pulled into the driveway as quietly as she could, braking gently. Amara scanned the area. Raneesha wasn’t outside, though her car was in the driveway.
She tried her hardest not to assume the worst as she turned the car off and slid from her seat. She stood outside and leaned down to see Quint. “Stay here like we planned. I’m sure everything’s fine. Nothing to worry about.”
He shook his head and quickly unbuckled. “I’m coming with you. If something has gone wrong, I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”
Amara didn’t think he could be much help in his condition. “No, please stay. If you come in, our plan will be blown.”
He studied her closely, and she looked away, uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
“The front door being open is a red flag that something might be wrong,” he said. “Either I go in with you, or neither of us go in, and we call 911.”
Amara looked at the open door and then back down at Quint. “Something’s not right. She’d never leave the door open like that. Especially not with Hampton inside.”
Chapter Nineteen
WITHOUT ANOTHER WORD, QUINT GOT out of the car. His walk at the hotel must have done him some good, because his gait was straighter and less faltering as he rounded the front of the car to join Amara. His expression was fierce and focused on the house.
Even though Quint wasn’t at his physical peak, she felt more secure, knowing he was at her side.
They cautiously approached the house, trying to peek in the windows as they passed, but the curtains were drawn tight, as usual.
It could be a simple matter of Raneesha having left the door open to run inside for something she wanted to take with her on a quick trip, or she might’ve been getting ready for a late-night drive with Hampton to soothe him.
No, it was unlikely either could be the case, and it was out of character for Amara’s careful mother.
Amara’s heart thumped hard in her chest as they neared the front door, her steps slowing. Quint placed a hand at her shoulder, giving a soft, reassuring squeeze. Quint stepped through the doorway first, scanning the room before waving Amara in.
As they made their way into the living room, nothing seemed out of place or strange, so Amara chanced a call. “Momma? Are you home? You left the door open!”
There was no response, and the silence worsened the rapidly tightening knot in Amara’s chest.
Quint paused, tense and alert. “Her car is still here, right? So she must be here, too. She’s not the type to go out walking at night, is she?”
“Definitely not.”
“Then let’s assume the best, but not let our guard down. Stay together while we look. If Hampton were here, where would he be?”
“In his nursery, upstairs.”
“Let’s go.”
They headed to the stairwell, Amara calling out several more times for her mother. They moved slowly and carefully, listening as they crept up the stairs. Halfway up, Quint raised a hand and then shifted it back, halting Amara mid-step.
In hushed tones, he said, “I hear something.”
Amara heard it, too. It was a strange grating noise, creaking and groaning, coming from Raneesha’s bedroom at the top of the stairs. When they heard a muffled groan, they made their way up the rest of the flight as quickly as Quint could go.
On the landing, Amara dashed past Quint and threw open the door to the master bedroom, darting inside without a second thought.
There, Raneesha sat tied to a chair, gagged and immobile. Her eyes were wide with fear and burning with tears, her breathing rapid and labored.
“Momma!” Amara spun around and tried to re-enter the hallway.
