CHAPTER 1: The Little Boy Who Refused to Let Go
Nobody expected the busiest police station in the city to fall completely silent because of a two-year-old boy.
It was supposed to be just another Monday morning.
Officers rushed through the hallways carrying reports. Detectives argued over evidence. Phones rang nonstop.
Then the front doors burst open.
A young woman stumbled inside, carrying a frightened little boy in her arms before collapsing into tears.
"Please... help him..."
Before anyone could ask another question, she fainted.
Paramedics rushed toward the woman while the toddler was gently lifted into the waiting area.
He didn't cry.
He didn't scream.
He simply stared at everyone with enormous, terrified eyes as if he had already seen things no child should ever witness.
Officer Emma Carter slowly knelt until she was at eye level.
"It's okay, sweetheart," she whispered softly. "You're safe now."
The little boy didn't answer.
He just gripped the sleeve of her uniform with tiny trembling fingers.
Emma smiled gently.
"My name is Emma. What's yours?"
The child hesitated.
"...Noah."
"That's a beautiful name."
He looked around the crowded police station before asking in a tiny voice,
"Are the bad men gone?"
The entire room became quiet.
Emma exchanged nervous glances with the detectives.
"What bad men, Noah?"
Instead of answering...
The little boy slowly reached into his tiny hoodie pocket.
He pulled out a small silver key.
On it was a single number.
17.
"I wasn't supposed to lose this," Noah whispered.
"My daddy said... if they catch him... I have to find the lady with the blue badge."
Emma instinctively looked down.
She was the only officer wearing a blue detective badge instead of the standard silver patrol badge.
A cold chill ran down her spine.
Because she had never met this child before in her life...
May you like
Yet somehow...
He had been looking specifically for her.
