{"id":12503,"date":"2026-09-17T19:40:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T19:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=12503"},"modified":"2026-09-17T19:40:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T19:40:47","slug":"part-4-sadie-had-not-chosen-my-house-by-accident-and-the-reason-she-trusted-emma-put-someone-else-in-immediate-danger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=12503","title":{"rendered":"PART 4 \u2013 Sadie Had Not Chosen My House by Accident, and the Reason She Trusted Emma Put Someone Else in Immediate Danger"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The call came shortly after six.<\/p>\n<p>Investigator Ramirez asked whether Emma was with me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan you speak privately?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I stepped into my bedroom and closed the door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve spoken with Sadie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My knees weakened enough that I sat on the edge of the bed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs she safe?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt this moment, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At this moment.<\/p>\n<p>I hated those three words.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere is she?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t disclose that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs she with Kurt?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The breath I had been holding escaped.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat about her mother?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t discuss that yet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I pressed the phone against my ear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you open everything in the box?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat was in it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome items are evidence, so I can\u2019t give you a complete inventory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWas Sadie being hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez paused.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have sufficient concerns that she will not be returning to the residence tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid Kurt hurt her?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not going to characterize allegations while we\u2019re still investigating.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was careful language.<\/p>\n<p>The carefulness told me enough.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat do you need from us?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI need to ask about something Emma may know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My eyes opened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHas Sadie ever mentioned another child named Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I searched my memory.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAsk Emma.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho is Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI need you to ask your daughter first without giving her additional information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I opened the bedroom door.<\/p>\n<p>Emma sat on the stairs.<\/p>\n<p>She had obviously been listening.<\/p>\n<p>I motioned her toward me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCome here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She entered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho\u2019s on the phone?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInvestigator Ramirez.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her eyes widened.<\/p>\n<p>I covered the receiver.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEmma, do you know someone named Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Every trace of color left her face.<\/p>\n<p>That was the answer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEmma?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho is she?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not supposed to say.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie made me promise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez\u2019s voice came faintly through the phone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPut me on speaker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I did.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEmma,\u201d she said, \u201cmy name is Elena Ramirez. I\u2019m helping Sadie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma stared at the phone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs she okay?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe is somewhere safe right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs Kurt there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma sat beside me.<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez continued. \u201cYour mom says Sadie mentioned Lily to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma nodded before remembering Ramirez could not see her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho is Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie\u2019s sister.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I looked sharply at Emma.<\/p>\n<p>I had never heard that Sadie had a sister.<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez remained calm.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow old is Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLittle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan you tell me a number?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFive, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes Lily live with Sadie?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The word sometimes changed Ramirez\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma twisted her fingers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe stays with her dad too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you know Lily\u2019s last name?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma shook her head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you know her father\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid Sadie tell you where Lily is now?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThink carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe said Lily was coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma\u2019s forehead wrinkled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter her dad\u2019s work trip.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez was silent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow long ago did she tell you that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the sleepover.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I felt something terrible gathering.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEmma,\u201d Ramirez said, \u201cwhat exactly did Sadie say about Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma\u2019s eyes began filling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe said she had to do it before Lily came home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe wouldn\u2019t tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My hand tightened around the phone.<\/p>\n<p>The backpack.<\/p>\n<p>Sadie asking whether I was brave.<\/p>\n<p>The hidden box.<\/p>\n<p>This had been planned.<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez asked, \u201cDid she say when Lily was coming home?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was Monday.<\/p>\n<p>There was movement at Ramirez\u2019s end.<\/p>\n<p>A chair scraping.<\/p>\n<p>A muffled voice.<\/p>\n<p>Then Ramirez returned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEmma, you\u2019ve helped us a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAm I in trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs Sadie?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid I break my promise?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez took a moment before answering.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou helped us understand something important.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma began crying silently.<\/p>\n<p>I put my arm around her.<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez asked to speak with me privately again.<\/p>\n<p>I stepped into the hall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to locate Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou didn\u2019t know about her?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe knew Sadie\u2019s mother had another child. We did not know the timing you just gave us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs Kurt around Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is one of the things we\u2019re determining.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did you find in Sadie\u2019s box?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t discuss all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWas there something about Lily?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another pause.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The word landed like a weight.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA note.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I waited.<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez chose her words carefully.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie expressed concern that what was happening to her might eventually happen to Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I sat down on the hallway floor.<\/p>\n<p>For several seconds I could not speak.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat was happening to Sadie?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t give you investigative details.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe shoes?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I covered my mouth.<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie has injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My eyes closed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHer feet?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmong other areas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The sentence was quiet and devastating.<\/p>\n<p>I thought about the child sitting against my wall all night.<\/p>\n<p>I had been within arm\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n<p>She had been hurting.<\/p>\n<p>And I had been talking about guinea pigs and marshmallows.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy the shoes?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez did not answer directly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe believed keeping them covered would prevent people from asking questions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause Kurt told her to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is consistent with what she has disclosed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The legal caution in Ramirez\u2019s phrasing could not soften what it meant.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd the photographs?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie had been documenting injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy herself?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith help, apparently.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhose?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re still establishing that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I remembered the label.<\/p>\n<p>FOR GRANDMA ONLY.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHer grandmother?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPossibly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy didn\u2019t she just give the box to her?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie believed communications with her grandmother were being monitored.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I leaned against the wall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe left it with me because she thought I would call the number.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat appears possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez was quiet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour daughter may have answered that already.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma had told Sadie I was brave about people.<\/p>\n<p>The description would have made me laugh any other day.<\/p>\n<p>Now it felt unbearable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRamirez.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFind Lily.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re working on it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore Kurt does.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The call ended.<\/p>\n<p>I returned to Emma.<\/p>\n<p>She had curled into the corner of the sofa.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs Sadie coming back to school?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan I call her?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma looked down.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI should\u2019ve told you before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTold me what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAbout Kurt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My pulse quickened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTell me anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She took a long breath.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie never wants rides home when he picks her up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I waited.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe waits in the bathroom sometimes until he leaves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt school?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes a teacher know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe threw away her sandals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe wore them to school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My stomach turned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNear the end of last year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you see this?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. She told me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid she say why he threw them away?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma shook her head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe just said Kurt got really mad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There it was again.<\/p>\n<p>The feet.<\/p>\n<p>Always the feet.<\/p>\n<p>The shoes were not the secret.<\/p>\n<p>They were the cover.<\/p>\n<p>At seven fifteen, Ramirez called again.<\/p>\n<p>They had found Lily.<\/p>\n<p>She was with her biological father in another county and had not yet returned to Sadie\u2019s home.<\/p>\n<p>I nearly collapsed with relief.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes Kurt know where Sadie is?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes he know you found the box?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot from us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happens tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat depends on several things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre you arresting him?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t discuss enforcement decisions before they occur.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I understood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan I see Sadie?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTell her Emma is worried about her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can pass that along if appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd tell her Waffles\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I stopped.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat about Waffles?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie was afraid somebody would take him away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez was silent for a moment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs he still at the house?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs far as I know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan somebody get him?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s more complicated than it sounds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s a guinea pig.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s property located inside a residence connected to an active investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I rubbed my forehead.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe thought asking for help would cost her the one thing she loved.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, I mean that might be why she waited.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know what you mean.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After we hung up, Emma and I ate dinner without tasting it.<\/p>\n<p>At eight thirty, the doorbell rang.<\/p>\n<p>My whole body tightened.<\/p>\n<p>Emma looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStay here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I approached the front window before opening the door.<\/p>\n<p>A woman stood beneath the porch light.<\/p>\n<p>She looked to be in her sixties, with silver hair pulled into a loose knot and both hands clasped tightly around a handbag.<\/p>\n<p>I opened the door but kept the chain fastened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMrs. Carter?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy name is Ruth Bell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The name meant nothing to me.<\/p>\n<p>Then she said, \u201cI\u2019m Sadie\u2019s grandmother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I removed the chain immediately.<\/p>\n<p>Ruth entered.<\/p>\n<p>Her face looked exhausted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs Sadie okay?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ve seen her?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth nodded.<\/p>\n<p>Her eyes filled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAbout twenty minutes ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma appeared from the den.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGrandma Ruth?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth covered her mouth.<\/p>\n<p>Emma ran to her.<\/p>\n<p>The woman bent and hugged her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie talks about you all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs she coming back?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth closed her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot tonight, sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma nodded.<\/p>\n<p>Then she asked the question neither adult expected.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid she tell you where the other key is?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth went still.<\/p>\n<p>I stared at Emma.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat other key?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma looked from me to Ruth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe key Sadie gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Every muscle in my body tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen did she give you a key?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn my room.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth\u2019s face had become almost gray.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat does it open?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma shrugged.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe said Grandma Ruth would know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth whispered something I could not hear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n<p>She looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was another box.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My skin prickled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, you do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth shook her head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSadie told me months ago that if anything happened, there were two places. I thought she was talking about hiding money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo places for what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her eyes moved toward Emma.<\/p>\n<p>I understood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEmma, go get the key.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma ran upstairs.<\/p>\n<p>The instant she was gone, Ruth lowered her voice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI knew Kurt frightened her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKnew how?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe stopped wanting to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you report it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI tried.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The answer came with visible shame.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy daughter defended him. Kurt said I was trying to break up their family. After that they stopped letting Sadie stay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou had her number hidden in Sadie\u2019s backpack.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI put it there last winter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo Sadie would always have it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid Kurt know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emma returned holding a tiny brass key.<\/p>\n<p>Ruth stared at it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat isn\u2019t for a cashbox.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She took it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause I gave Sadie this key.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLast Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth looked toward the window as if afraid somebody might be standing outside.<\/p>\n<p>Then she answered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy old house.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t live there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy would Sadie need a key?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe used to hide there when things got bad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A sick silence settled over the room.<\/p>\n<p>Ruth closed her fingers around the brass.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a crawlspace beneath the back porch.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is in it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou said there were two places.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s what she told me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The phone rang.<\/p>\n<p>All three of us jumped.<\/p>\n<p>I answered.<\/p>\n<p>It was Ramirez.<\/p>\n<p>Her voice was sharper than before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLaura, is Ruth Bell at your house?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I looked at Ruth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo not leave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs Emma there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKeep both of them inside.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My throat tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe attempted to locate Kurt for an interview.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruth closed her eyes as though she had expected those words.<\/p>\n<p>Ramirez continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis truck was found empty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLess than two miles from Ruth Bell\u2019s former residence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I looked at the little brass key in Ruth\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n<p>And suddenly we knew exactly where the investigation had to go next.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=12504\">Click here to continue reading: PART 5: The Empty Truck Near Ruth\u2019s Old House Suggested Kurt Was Hunting for Something Sadie Had Hidden Before Anyone Else Could Reach It<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The call came shortly after six. Investigator Ramirez asked whether Emma was with me. \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cCan you speak privately?\u201d I stepped into my bedroom and closed the door. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12503"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12531,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12503\/revisions\/12531"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}