Chapter 4: Seeking Help from the Police
The early morning air was heavy as Sienna, Garner, and Anjo stood outside the police station, a quiet tension hanging between them. Anjo placed a reassuring hand on Garner’s shoulder, his gaze steady and supportive.
“Let’s head inside,” he said gently.
“We’ll start with your statement, and then we’ll go to your house to look for clues. I promise, we’ll do everything we can to find out who did this and where they’ve taken your sister.”
Garner nodded silently, swallowing hard as they entered the station. It was overwhelming, with officers moving back and forth, phones ringing, and the hum of low conversations filling the room. Garner kept close to Sienna, grateful for her comforting presence.
Inside one of the interview rooms, Anjo set a glass of water in front of Garner and took a seat across from him, pulling out a notepad. He gave Garner a reassuring nod.
“All right, whenever you’re ready, Garner.”
Garner took a shaky breath, his fingers tightening around the glass.
“It all happened so fast. We were just sitting in the living room—me, my parents, and my sister, Farrah. We were watching a show, and then…then these men broke in.”
Anjo nodded, listening carefully.
“Did they say anything when they entered? Anything that could help us identify them?”
Garner nodded, his voice trembling.
“They kept demanding something from my dad. They kept saying, ‘Where is it? Tell us where it is, or else!’ But I don’t know what they were talking about.”
Anjo’s brows furrowed, and he exchanged a look with one of his fellow officers standing nearby.
“Did they mention anything specific—any names, locations, or items?”
“No, just ‘it,’” Garner replied, shaking his head.
“My dad kept saying he didn’t know what they wanted, but they wouldn’t listen. They…they…” His voice cracked, and he looked down, his hands shaking.
Anjo reached across the table, his tone calm but firm.
“Take your time, Garner. I know this is incredibly hard, but every detail helps us build a picture of what happened.”
Garner took a deep breath, steadying himself.
“My dad tried to protect us. He told me and Farrah to hide in the kitchen cabinet. There was a little hole where we could see everything.” He clenched his jaw, his eyes filling with tears.
“We watched them…shoot him. And my mom.”
Sienna put a hand on his arm, giving him a gentle squeeze. “You’re doing great, Garner. Just a little more, okay?”
He nodded, trying to push through the painful memories. “Farrah tried to run to them, but one of the men grabbed her. I tried to stop them, but…he took her, and they all left.”
Anjo’s hand tightened around his pen, his jaw clenched as he wrote down every word. “You’re being very brave, Garner. I need you to think carefully—do you remember anything else about them? What they looked like, how many there were?”
Garner’s brow furrowed in frustration.
“No, that’s the thing—I can’t remember any of their faces. It’s all…blurred, like a fog. I don’t know why.”
Sienna leaned forward.
“It’s okay, Garner. Maybe it’ll come back later. We’re here to help you, no matter what.”
Anjo looked at her gratefully, then turned back to Garner. “Thank you for sharing that, Garner. Let’s take a break, and then we’ll head to your house to look for any clues that might help us.”
---
As they drove to the house, Sienna kept a close eye on Garner, who stared out the window, his face pale. Anjo broke the silence, his voice gentle but steady.
“Garner, I know this is painful, but you’re helping us build a stronger case. With what you’ve told us, we have a better idea of what to look for.”
Garner managed a small nod. “Thank you…both of you.”
Sienna gave him an encouraging smile. “We’re with you, every step of the way.”
When they arrived at Garner’s house, it was eerily quiet. The yellow police tape was already in place, fluttering in the morning breeze, and several officers were waiting outside. Garner hesitated at the door, his fists clenched.
Anjo placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to go inside if you’re not ready, Garner.”
Garner took a deep breath, steeling himself. “No…I need to see it.”
Together, they stepped inside, the atmosphere thick with the weight of what had happened the night before. The living room looked exactly as it had during Garner’s nightmare—except for the dark stains on the carpet, the overturned furniture, and the scattered glass.
Anjo moved carefully around the room, taking in every detail. “All right, let’s start looking for any evidence that could tell us who did this.”
One of the officers, Detective Cruz, joined them, nodding at Anjo. “We’ve started dusting for prints, but so far, it’s been difficult. Whoever these men were, they knew how to cover their tracks.”
Anjo’s face darkened as he knelt down, inspecting the scene. “They must have known exactly what they were looking for, but they still wanted to make it look like a random attack.”
Detective Cruz nodded. “Exactly. They didn’t leave any obvious signs, but maybe we’ll find something overlooked. We’re being thorough.”
As the officers continued their work, Sienna and Garner stood off to the side, watching in silence. Garner clenched his fists, his voice a whisper. “I just want them to pay for what they did. They tore my family apart…”
Sienna put a hand on his shoulder, her voice soft. “We’ll get them, Garner. Somehow, we’ll make sure they’re brought to justice.”
Just then, Detective Cruz called Anjo over, holding a small, crumpled piece of paper he’d found under the couch. “This looks like it might be something. There’s a partial address scrawled on it, along with a phone number.”
Anjo took the paper, examining it closely. “It’s a start. We’ll trace this number and see if it leads anywhere.”
He turned to Garner, his gaze steady. “This could be a clue, Garner. Someone might have slipped it here without your dad noticing, or maybe he was trying to hide it. Either way, we’ll find out.”
Garner nodded, his expression determined. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help.”
---
As the investigation continued, the officers scoured every inch of the house. Anjo moved through the rooms with precision, his eyes scanning each surface, each corner, hoping to find even the smallest shred of evidence.
But as the hours ticked by, it became painfully clear that whoever had orchestrated the attack had been careful—too careful.
“Nothing,” Anjo muttered to Detective Cruz as they regrouped in the living room. “It’s like they wiped everything clean before they left.”
Cruz nodded, his face grim. “This was planned. They wanted to leave nothing behind that could link them to this place.”
Anjo sighed, glancing at Garner, who was sitting on the couch beside Sienna, looking lost. “We’ll keep digging, Cruz. There has to be something we missed. People like this always leave traces, no matter how careful they are.”
Garner looked up, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Do you really think you’ll find them, Anjo?”
Anjo approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Yes, I do. It might take time, but I won’t give up until we do.”
---
As they prepared to leave, Anjo pulled Sienna aside, his expression serious. “Sienna, keep a close eye on Garner. These men might come after him again if they realize he’s still alive.”
She nodded, her face set with determination. “I’ll make sure he’s safe. And if anything happens…I’ll let you know right away.”
Anjo nodded, glancing over at Garner. “He’s lucky to have you. Stay close to him, and be careful. I have a feeling this isn’t over.”
Sienna squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry, Anjo. We’ll be okay.”
---
Back at the station, Anjo and Cruz set to work on the piece of paper, tracing the phone number and the partial address. It was a painstaking process, but Anjo was relentless, his focus unwavering.
Later that night, as Sienna and Garner sat in her living room, Garner turned to her, his expression soft. “Thank you, Sienna. I don’t know how I’d be handling any of this without you.”
She smiled, nudging him gently.
“Hey, what are friends for? Besides, you saved me from dying of boredom at the school fair, so it’s only fair.”
He chuckled, the sound a small comfort in the otherwise heavy atmosphere.
“Still…thank you. For everything.”
They shared a quiet moment, and for a brief moment, the weight of everything lifted.
But they both knew that this was only the beginning of a long, dangerous road ahead.