Page 84 of Meet Me in Ivy Falls

‘I need a word with you both,’ he said once he reached us. Manny and Tessa moved to stand too, but Dad waved them off. ‘Not now.’

Beck and I followed him through the maze of families, finally stopping at an open spot behind the town’s gazebo.

‘Minutes ago I got a call from Sheriff Brewer. It seems their dispatch received a call for a disturbance at 2227 Huckleberry Lane.’

‘That’s not possible. There’s no one there,’ I said.

My father hesitated, swiped a hand over his mouth as if he was trying to figure out what to say next.

‘What else is going on?’ I pushed.

‘After the first call came in, a second one followed. This time it was a request for an ambulance.’

‘We have to get to the house,’ I said, gripping Beck’s arm. ‘Dad, go back and tell Manny what’s going on, please…’

Beck was right behind me as I sprinted toward where Sally Mae was parked in front of the bank. Once we were buckled in, I sped through town.

‘Whatever it is, Torran, we’ll handle it,’ Beck said.

All I could do was focus on the road ahead and pray he was right.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

BECK

Straight Into My Living Nightmare.

Flashing red and blue lights greeted us when we turned on to Huckleberry Lane. Several police cars faced the house and an ambulance idled in the driveway. Along the curb, a half-dozen people sat with their hands zip-tied behind their backs.

‘What the hell?’ I said, quickly unlatching my seatbelt.

Torran made a sharp U-turn and pulled up to the opposite side of the street. Before she could put the truck in park, I jumped out the door. I didn’t get twenty feet when a barrel-chested deputy blocked my path.

‘Sir, you can’t go inside.’

‘This is my house,’ I pushed back.

Torran rushed to my side. ‘Hi, Ben. Can you tell us what’s going on?’

‘Sorry, Torran. I’d forgotten you were working on this place.’ He rubbed a hand over his shock of black hair, the lines around his mouth turning grim. ‘We got a call from the neighbors about the front door being open and music blasting.’

The radio strapped to his hip squawked and he turned it down. Several other officers shoved partiers past us and out on to the street.

‘When we arrived we found several individuals trying to leave with items taken from the house. Once we got inside, we detained most of the suspects who we realized were very high. Deputies started searching rooms and discovered a female passed out on a bathroom floor upstairs. She had a faint pulse so we called 911. Paramedics are with her right now.’

‘Did you recognize the girl?’ Torran asked.

‘Nope,’ he replied. ‘My guess is none of these folks are from Ivy Falls.’

‘Can we go inside and look around?’ she asked.

‘No. It’d be best to stay out here until we get everyone cleared out.’

A figure moved out of the shadows and walked in our direction. ‘Let them inside, Ben. They have a right to see what’s going on. I’ll take responsibility for the decision,’ Torran’s dad said in his sternest mayoral voice. His gaze moved to Torran and she gave him a grateful nod.

‘Of course, sir.’ Ben stepped aside and I sprinted toward the front door.

A nagging fear pounded in the back of my head. I had to see the damage. Take a look at the girl in the bathroom.