The police radio suddenly burst with frantic chatter: “We have a locked metal door on the east side of the basement… Possible movement detected inside… Hold your positions!”

Martha immediately took a step toward the unfinished building.

Detective Miller caught her arm gently.

“Wait here until the area is completely secured.”

A loud metallic bang echoed up from the subterranean level, followed by another sharp noise.

Long seconds ticked by in agonizing silence.

Martha stared at the gray structure and remembered Christopher at six years old when he accidentally got trapped inside their old wooden barn after the latch jammed.

He had tried so hard not to cry because his father had taught him that panicking wasted energy.