Page 217 of Rangers Unexpected Return

The melody was gentle and quiet, almost like a lullaby.

Rylie covered her mouth.

“That’s Emily.”

Trigger slipped his arm around her shoulders.

Emily stopped singing.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “You’ll be all right. We’ll figure something out.”

No one breathed.

Then came a child’s voice.

“Will he come back?”

Emily answered immediately.

“Not tonight.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I’m staying.”

Rylie leaned against Trigger.

The recording continued.

“You have to promise me something,” Emily said.

Emma sniffled. “What?”

“If anything happens, you tell the truth.”

Silence.

Then another voice exploded through the speaker.

Male.

Angry.

“What are you doing?”

The recording ended.

Everyone stared at the recorder.

Will slowly looked up.

“There’s more.”

He pressed PLAY again.

This recording was shorter.

Footsteps.