He stepped hard into Daniel’s path, one shoulder driving forward as if he could physically seal the room with his own body.Daniel stopped him before he got there.
It happened fast.
Thomas reached across Daniel’s arm, Daniel turned with the movement, and the quiet hallway suddenly filled with the scrape of shoes against carpet.
Downstairs, María pulled Emily closer to her side.The little girl did not scream.
She simply squeezed the stuffed rabbit against her chest and stared up the staircase.
That reaction told María almost as much as the 911 call had.
Every shift of his shoulders mattered.
Every change in his voice mattered.
Every step toward her mattered.
