Page 14 of Bring Them Home

The neighbor who told them they hadn’t seen the Archers for a few days had done so earlier in the evening. The next-door houses were dark at this time of night. “Sounds like a plan. Hopefully, there won’t even be a need for them to do so by then. We issued BOLOs for Paul and his Kia.”

“I saw that. As you can see for yourself, it’s not here.” Traci gestured at the empty driveway. “It might be in the garage, but I’m not holding my breath.”

“Me neither.” Amanda glanced at the attached garage. Three windows were along the top, far too high to look into without a ladder. They could go about it another way that kept everyone’s feet on the ground. “We’ve got a search warrant for the house. We’ll find out soon enough.”

“Did you call in Crime Scene?”

“We’re going to hold off until we see what’s in there,” Amanda said.

Traci nodded. “I called them out to the secure lot to look at Valerie’s Charger.”

Amanda would have expected that much and headed to the door. Trent was at her side, and Traci at her heels. Once there, Amanda rang the bell and peered through the sidelights. A futile act since the glass was obscured. She hoped for a response and received the one she expected. Silence. Until her phone rang.

She pulled out her device. It was Malone returning her call. She answered, and he wasted no time speaking.

“I say, get that warrant.”

She smiled. “Already done. Trent and I are getting ready to enter the family’s home right now.”

“Good. Keep me posted on what you find in there and any other developments that might happen.”

“Will do.”

Trent paused working the deadbolt with his lockpick kit and looked over at her.

She gave him a thumbs-up, and by the time she hung up, there was a subtle clunk. She twisted the handle while Trent put his kit away. Just the sight from the doorway was enough to ground her steps. The house was open concept, and the living room could be seen just past the entry. Couch cushions and throw pillows were tossed around the room, and bric-a-brac and books littered the floor. Two chairs were lying on their sides.

“Okay, so this doesn’t look good,” Trent said.

She shook her head. “Someone was looking for something.” But would a search of the house reveal what that was? Only time would tell. She called out, “Prince William County PD,” while not expecting a response.

The piercing stillness was unsettling and disturbing at the same time. The only comfort Amanda took was the fact there was no smell of blood or decomp.

“I’ll call Crime Scene.” Trent took out his phone.

When he finished, they put protective booties over their shoes and branched out on the main level, announcing themselves as they moved along. One of the first places she checked was the garage, and she confirmed that Paul’s Kia wasn’t there.

Trent’s callouts echoed throughout the home and reached Amanda in the kitchen. It was in the rear of the house, and every drawer was open. Some were pulled all the way out and sitting on the floor. Most of the cabinet doors were open, and the shelves inside were bare. The contents of most cupboards and drawers were strewn across the tile.

Whoever had come through this home was after something. When a search of the house had failed to reward them, was that when they had taken the Archers? But what were they after, and why was this family targeted?

Framed photographs lined the hallways, and seeing the Archers as a close-knit unit burrowed into Amanda’s chest. These pictures must have been from before Landon got sick.

Amanda proceeded toward the staircase, where she met Trent.

He shook his head, and she did the same.

She led the way up and strained to hear any sounds, no matter how faint. But there was nothing hitting her ears.

The first door on the right was the primary bedroom, and the drawers from the nightstands and dressers were on the floor. The comforter and sheets were ripped off the bed and sat in a heap on the carpet.

“Whoever it was, they were thorough,” she said, sharing her observation.

“Sure, but did they find what they were after? I’m going to guess they didn’t and that’s why they resorted to taking the family.”

“I thought the same.” It might be premature to make that leap, but her cop instincts were screaming at her. The Archers were in grave danger if they were right. She walked around the bed and stopped as she scanned the spilled contents from the nightstand drawer. There was a keycard attached to a lanyard with the Woodbridge Trust & Bridge Co.’s logo on the front. They knew Paul was a schoolteacher, so it couldn’t be his. She pointed out her find to Trent and said, “It seems the mother worked at Woodbridge Trust.”

“We’ll need to pay them a visit if we can’t find her,” Trent said.